Are you a High Power or F-Class marksman looking for official bullseye paper targets? Here are bulk sets of 25, 50 and 100 targets from Creedmoor Sports. All these can can be used for general practice, fun matches, or official sanctioned events. Choose the official 200-yard SR target with all scoring rings (X,10,9,8,7,6,5), priced at $49.95 for 50. For long-range practice, try the NRA Official 600-yard High Power Target ($58.95 for 25ct), or the Official “Full Face” MR-65 500-Yard F-Class Target ($31.95 for 50ct). Creedmoor also offers a variety of Repair Centers, including the 300-Yard SR-3C Target Repair Center ($34.95), or the 600-yard MR-1 Target Repair Center ($32.95). These target centers can be used on top of full targets, or by themselves for practice on smaller target frames.
Creedmoor Sports also offers match-grade spotter discs. These are used to mark shot locations. They are offered in three diameters: 1.5″, 3.0″, and 5.0″. In addition, you can purchase the spindles used with spotter discs along with orange Golf Tees also employed to mark shots. These are placed in the shot holes by pit workers.
Frankly for practice, we recommend a target cam, or ShotMarker system.
Hornady Hosts 12th Annual Zombies in the Heartland 3-Gun Match
Over 450 zombie hunters descended on Grand Island, Nebraska, May 31 through June 2, 2024, to battle the “undead” during the 12th annual Zombies in the Heartland 3-Gun Match hosted by Hornady and the Heartland Public Shooting Park. Shooters from all over the country armed with handguns, shotguns, and rifles, tested their talent in 10 zombie-themed stages. Specifically developed reactive zombie targets kept everyone engaged and entertained.
The Heartland Zombies match is a veritable theme park for shootists, with many fun stages and innovative targets. Many unique, reactive zombie targets have been developed specifically for this match. The use of paper targets has been minimized — so it’s mostly “bang and clang”. Rifles, pistols and shotguns are used on most stages. There were also fun side-matches. Watch the video above to see this year’s action.
2024 Zombies in the Heartland Match Division Winners
Open: Nate Schmidt
Tactical: Ryan Calhoon
PCC: Jay Carillo
“A special thanks to the Heartland Public Shooting Park staff for their preparedness in dealing with inclement weather,” said Jeremy Millard, Hornady Engineer and Match Director.
The 2024 CMP Eastern Games, held April 26 through May 5, were a major success this year with a big boost in competitors and event participation. The CMP Eastern Games were held at Camp Butner for the 19th time. Events included Pistol, Highpower, Rimfire Sporter, Mid-Range, Long Range, and Games matches on several ranges. This year boasted a nearly 10 percent increase in competitors and a 35 percent increase in event entries.
The Eastern Games event is part of CMP’s Travel Games series. The popular Travel Games bring the challenge and fun of the National Matches on the road to different corners of the country for all to enjoy. This year, the week-long Eastern Games event hosted over 450 participants, numbers that had not been achieved since before the Pandemic. CLICK HERE for 2024 Eastern Games Photos.
The weather was picture perfect, slightly cool in the mornings and warming up mid-day with clear skies — no doubt contributing to great performances seen throughout the week. View full results at TheCMP.org/EasternGames24Results.
Victor Betzold won the As-Issued Carbine, Long Range Match Rifle Day 1, and achieved three High Senior distinctions. Keith Schachle managed to snag the win for both the Three & Four Gun Aggregates. The Army Marksmanship Unit joined the competition halfway through the week for the Highpower Rifle Matches, and SSG David Bahten was victorious in the Highpower 2400 Aggregate with a score of 2383-122x, edging out SFC Erin O’Neill by only three points.
Long Range Matches Are Popular Feature
Long Range competitor shooting with scoped Eliseo Tubegun. Note viewing screen for electronic target.
The newest addition to the event line up is the Long Range Matches. Here shooters campaign with Palma rifles, service rifles, and F-Class rifles. Competitors were excited to see these matches on the schedule, as they normally have to travel to the National Matches at Camp Perry in Ohio to compete in some of these discipline. KTS (Kongsberg Target System) electronic targets were used for this match as well as all other rifle matches. Fritz Hempelmann made history winning the first ever CMP Travel Games Match Rifle Aggregate with a score of 789-37X.
Marksmanship Clinics offered for Rifle and Pistol Shooters
The Civilian Marksmanship Program put on a number of clinics including a Pistol Small Arms Firing School (SAFS) attended by 28 students, Rifle SAFS attended by 42 students, a GSMM New Shooter Clinic, and a Garand Maintenance Clinic. The SAFS classes featured Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) Matches with the opportunity for the top 10 percent of participants to earn their first 4 EIC points.
As with many CMP matches, there were many Rimfire Sporter class competitors. This competition is conducted with relatively inexpensive .22 LR production rifles and is a good way to enjoy a CMP match without a huge investment in rifle, fancy optics, and shooting gear.
Pistol Matches at Camp Butner
Eric Herrin, who is currently working towards his pistol Distinguished Badge, claimed the overall top spot in the Revolver Pistol EIC Match with a score of 351-5X, an honor that is not common for non-distinguished competitors. Jonathan Shue dominated the field in the any sights category and secured eight pistol match wins including Overall Individual Pistol Aggregate and the 2700 Pistol Aggregate.
Great Facility, Good Competition, and Good Fellowship
Competitors praised the range facilities at Camp Butner. Overall it was a very successful event and the CMP predicts the Eastern Games will continue to grow in attendance. The 2025 Eastern CMP Games, Pistol and Cup Matches will take place April 25 through May 4, 2025 — save those dates!
The CMP Rimfire Sporter discipline is for smallbore rifles that weigh 7 1/2 pounds or less with sights. Firing is done at 25 and 50 yards in prone, sitting, and standing positions, in slow and rapid-fire modes. The CMP has a special smart-phone App that helps speed up scoring. Rimfire Sporter matches are held throughout the country in connection with the CMP’s Travel Games.
And each summer, the major National Rimfire Sporter Match attracts hundreds of shooters to the shore of Lake Erie at Camp Perry. This year’s Rimfire Sporter Match at Camp Perry will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2024 — just five weeks away. The CMP National Rimfire Sporter Rifle Match offers shooters a recreation-oriented competition where they use affordable, smallbore sporter rifles with either scopes or iron sights. All you need are a .22 LR rifle, sling, and ammo.
Rifles may be manually operated or semi-automatic, in three classes: the standard “O Class” for open-sighted rifles, “T-Class” for telescope-sighted rifles, and the “Tactical Rimfire” Class. Firing is done at 50 and 25 yards on a target with a 1.78″ ten-ring. The target is simple enough for a beginner to hit, yet challenging enough that only one competitor in the history of the match has ever fired a perfect 600 score.
Rimfire Sporter Course of Fire
At the Rimfire Sporter Match, competitors complete slow fire prone, rapid fire prone, slow fire sitting or kneeling, rapid fire sitting or kneeling, slow fire standing, and rapid fire standing shot sequences.
What is Required for the Camp Perry Rimfire Sporter Match
Competitors need to bring their own .22 cal. Rimfire rifle(s) and ammunition. Special target shooting equipment, shooting jackets, or shooting gloves are not permitted, but you can bring a spotting scope and ground cloth or shooting mat. The firing points have grass (sometimes a bit wet with rain). Competitors are strongly urged to wear hearing and eye protection. Assistance for disabled competitors is provided.
A free Shooters’ Clinic is usually held in connection with the Rimfire Sport match at Camp Perry. The Clinic covers Rimfire Sporter rules, safety instructions, course of fire, and competition procedures. Shooters who have not previously attended a CMP Rimfire Sporter Match are strongly encouraged to attend.
Last weekend, a prestigious competition, the V2 Finale, was held in Texas. This double-elimination match is the culmination of the F-Class Points Series conducted around the country. The F-Class Points Series V2 Finale was held May 23-26, 2024 at the Bayou Rifles Juliff Range in Rosharan, Texas. This is a unique competition with head-to-head pairs competition from start to finish. The event attracted leading F-Open and F-TR shooters including many past National Champions. There were tough conditions this year, with hot and very humid weather. To learn more about the F-Class Points Series visit FclassPointsSeries.com.
We congratulate the 2024 V2 Finale Champions, Norm Harrold in F-Open, and Scott Kyle in F-TR division.
F-Open third-place finisher Erik Cortina told us: “The fourth Vihtavuori V2 Finale was a success. Bayou Rifle Club proved to be a challenging range and gave way to many nail-biting matches. After three days of grueling competition, two shooters came out on top. Norm Harrold won F-Open and Scott Kyle won F-TR”. CLICK HERE to see more photos from the recent competition.
Here the Top 8 V2 Finale F-Open competitors receive their awards. Left to right are: Norm Harrold (Champion), Joe Fairley (2nd), Erik Cortina (3rd), Peter Johns, Tim Vaught, Matthew Bassala, Doug Skogman, and Jay Christopherson.
This Erik Cortina video features interviews with many top shooters including Norm Harrold (F-Open winner), and Scott Kyle (F-TR winner). The two F-Class John short videos below feature music (very cool).
High-Tech Hardware on the Firing Line
There was some interesting hardware on the firing line. With the electronic target systems used, competitors could see shot locations/scores via mobile WiFi devices. Many shooters also had spotting scopes which allowed then to watch wind and weather conditions on the 1000-yard range. And to beat the heat some shooters had battery-powered portable fans.
Above Erik Cortina, Cortina Precision, shoots his F-Open rifle with SEB NEO-X Front Rest.
Match photos from 2024 courtesy Denys Beauchemin, aka “Turbulent Turtle” in our AccurateShooter Forum. CLICK HERE to see more photos in 2024 V2 Finale Photo Archive.
Many of the Canadian F-TR shooters used a handy unitized base pad for their bipods. This provided consistent support and smooth tracking for both ski-type bipod feet.
Here are six of the Top 8 F-TR shooters: Scott Kyle (Champion), Brad Traynor (2nd), Allen Tempke (3rd), Ray Weaver, Robin Retzloff, Eric Bisson. Not present are Skip Barkley and Adam MacDonald.
Match Organizers Thank Vihtavuori and Other Sponsors
“We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with Vihtavuori for the 2024 V2 Finale event! As one of our original sponsors, their direct support has been instrumental in bringing this event to life and supporting its growth, commented Tod Hendricks, F-Class Point Series member. “Now serving as the lead sponsor, Vihtavuori’s continued generosity ensures that events like ours can flourish, offering fresh and exhilarating experiences in the competitive shooting sports arena.” Along with Vihtavuori, other V2 Finale sponsors included: Borden Accuracy, SEB Rests, Brux Barrels, and PrecisionPay. Our friend F-Class John served as Match Director.
This was a high-tech match with video cameras and electronic target monitors. Shown above is the main video recording station on the firing line. This was used by Erik Cortina to monitor/record match video feeds. The video below shows the Bayou Rifles Juliff 1000-yard range where the V2 Finale was held.
F-Class Points Series Rules and Course of Fire
The F-Class Points Series is a yearlong F-Class points system and leaderboard, that culminates in the V2 Finale, which pits F-Class competitors against each other in a bracket-style double elimination match. Sixty-four competitors, 32 for each class (F-Open and FT/R), are invited to the Finale based on their series ranking. Since the V2’s inaugural series in 2021, partnerships have begun in Canada, South Africa, Italy, and Australia. The 2024 Finale was held May 23-26 at Bayou Rifles in Rosharon, Texas.
CLICK HERE for V2 Finale and F-Class Points Series rules. For more information on the F-Class Points Series and V2 Finale, visit FClassPointSeries.com.
This new-format match pits F-Class competitors against each other in a bracket-style double elimination match. The elite field (32 per class) is selected via a preceding Points series. In the past targets were placed at 1000 yards. In something unusual for an American F-Class match, in the V2 Finale all shooting will be done via PAIR FIRING, with shooters going head-to-head with alternating shots. The listed course of fire for 2024 is:
3.1. 2 CONVERTIBLE SIGHTERS AND 15 SHOTS FOR RECORD AT 1000 YARDS, PAIR FIRE
3.2. 2 CONVERTIBLE SIGHTERS AND 10 SHOTS FOR RECORD AT 1000 YARDS, PAIR FIRE
3.3. 5 SHOTS FOR RECORD AT 1000 YARDS, PAIR FIRE
Most of our readers are rifle guys, but it’s fun to shoot a pistol match now and then. You don’t need a lot of equipment, and if you shoot IDPA (Int’l Defensive Pistol Assn.) matches, you can really win with a $400 pistol and $25.00 worth of bulk 9mm ammo. That’s a bargain compared to what you’ll spend on a competitive PRS or F-Class rig and custom hand-loads.
If you want to get into the IDPA game, Shooting Sports USA has a good article that explains the basic rules and classifications. IDPA is not your grandad’s bullseye pistol match. There is movement and action. Stages are timed, and competitors engage targets from cover if available. Singled-handed shooting is sometimes required, as is shooting while moving. You can compete with pretty much any handgun suitable for self-defense — but no $4000 Raceguns with fancy optics. The fact that you can be 100% competitive without spending a ton of money is what makes IDPA so popular.
Shooting Sports USA polled IDPA shooters at the 2016 IDPA Nationals to determine their favorite gun brands and models. The #1 choice was the 9mm Glock 34 for the SSP (Standard Service Pistol) and ESP (Enhanced Service Pistol) Classes. Next most popular was the Smith & Wesson M&P Pro. We expect in 2024 many competitors are now using SIGs and Walthers, while Glock usage has declined.
Along with SSP and ESP, there are three other main IDPA classes: Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP) for .45 ACPs (mostly 1911 types), Concealed Carry Pistol (CCP), and Revolver (REV). All classes have a minimum power factor. Scores are based on time and shot placement on the IDPA target.
IDPA Scoring System
The official IDPA Target (right) has multiple scoring zones. If you don’t hit the target’s center mass zone or head zone (both appear green in illustration), you drop one or three points. Here’s the formula: Score (in seconds) = Time + Points Down + Penalties. In IDPA, “points down” (and penalties) are added to your time. If you hit the outer edge of the target, you get 3 points down. Nearer center can be 1 point down. Center hit or head shot is 0 points down. See IDPA Scoring for Dummies.
Five Tips for New IDPA Shooters
This Editor got his start in competitive shooting with local IDPA matches. I shot a 9mm Glock 34, and a 9mm SIG Sauer P226, and even did one match with a .38 Spl S&W Snubbie. I eventually settled on the SIG P226, as it fit my hand better than the Glock, was more accurate, and was every bit as reliable. The P226 also pointed better than the Glock for me — something that helps with target acquisition. Here are FIVE TIPS for new IDPA competitors:
1. Dry-Fire Practice at Home
You can improve your grip and sight acquisition dramatically with 30 minutes of dry-firing every week. Get some quality snap caps and go to it. One tip — don’t do this in your back-yard if the nosy neighbors can see. We had one friend who was dry-firing in his yard and got an unexpected visit from the local police (with guns drawn). That can turn out badly to say the least…
2. Practice One-Handed Shooting (Both Strong-Hand and Weak-Hand)
Most of the worst misses I saw during IDPA matches were during stages requiring one-handed shooting. A lot of pistol shooters have spent all their time shooting two-handed. That’s the best technique, but in an IDPA match, you may be required to shoot one-handed on some stages. If you’re a righty, shooting with the left hand only will feel really weird, and your accuracy will be poor unless you practice. We suggest starting your one-handed training with a rimfire pistol, then transition to your centerfire pistol.
3. For 9mm, Don’t Bother to Hand-load Your Ammo
This may seem like sacrilege, but if you’re only shooting one match a month, it’s probably not worth the time and money to reload 9x19mm. I did reload my 9mm ammo on a progressive for a couple years. After looking at money and time, I just started buying commercial 9mm ammo which worked fine. I was only saving a few cents per round by reloading, and that wasn’t worth the time invested.
4. Get a Good Holster That Fits Right
In IDPA matches you normally draw from holster during the match. I saw a lot of people struggle because they had Kydex holsters that would not release easily, or leather holsters that fit too tight or rocked during draw. Try a few different brands at the local store.
5. Be Smooth, Be Calm, and AIM Your Shots
Many folks come into IDPA thinking it’s all about speed. But there are score zones on the official IDPA target, so you need to focus and AIM. Don’t just “run and gun”. If you stay calm, align your sights in the center of the target for EVERY shot, you will end up with a higher score with fewer “points down”. Speed will come with time. It is better to make sure each one of your shots is a hit.
Congratulations to Team Vihtavuori member Doug Koenig on winning the 2024 CMP Bianchi Cup Championship, one of the world’s most prestigious pistol tournaments. Koening took the 2024 title with an impressive 1920-183X Grand Aggregate. Koenig’s 2024 Bianchi Cup title marked a major milestone. This was Koenig’s 20th time winning the prestigious pistol championship. To learn more about Doug’s accomplishments, visit KoenigShooting.com.
The 2024 CMP Bianchi Cup was hosted by the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club in Hallsville, Missouri on May 21-24, 2024. For the second year, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) governed the international competition. In partnering with Green Valley, the CMP seeks to grow the event with more shooters and new divisions. The Bianchi Cup, known as the gold standard in action pistol shooting, has a 40+ year history and attracts the world’s leading competitive pistol shooters.
Koenig, who loads his pistol ammo with Vihtavuori N320 powder, was in a tight race with fellow Team Vihtavuori member Bruce Piatt. Piatt finished in a close second place, followed by SSG Walter Johnson, SSG Anthony Heinauer, and Benito Martinez. The top finishers were only separated by a mere 5 bullseyes.
These two videos show Doug Koenig in action in past years at the Bianchi Cup Range.
There will be major rimfire and centerfire pistol competitions at the 2024 CMP National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. Hundreds of shooters will participate in these popular individual and team events, which commence in mid-July.
The rimfire/centerfire pistol competitions begin on July 15, 2024 with the handgun Small Arms Firing School (SAFS) followed by M9 Pistol Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) pistol matches. The SAFS will be led by USAMU, Military Team, and CMP instructors. Following classroom instruction and practice on the range, SAFS participants will fire an M9 EIC Match with the goal of earning points towards the prestigious Distinguished Badge.
On July 17, the .22 Rimfire 900 Aggregate, Team Matches, and Rimfire EIC matches will be held. In the past, these matches have been hugely popular — with 480+ Rimfire competitors from novices to experts.
Following the rimfire pistol matches, there will be centerfire Pistol Aggregate and Team Matches on July 18, followed by .45 Pistol Aggregate and Team matches on July 19. Then, on Saturday the 20th, the big President’s 100 Pistol Match, National Trophy Individual Match, National Trophy Pistol Team Matches, and GSSF Glock National Challenge will be held. There will be plenty of talent on the firing line. In recent years, over 90% of the top 50 Service Pistol shooters were Distinguished. The last pistol matches run on Sunday the 21st, with Pistol Games Awards at the end of the day.
This video shows .45 ACP centerfire pistol competitors at Camp Perry
Interested in competing in the Camp Perry Pistol Matches this summer with either a .22 LR Rimfire pistol or centerfire pistol? It’s not too late to register. CLICK HERE for Pistol Match Online Registration.
Leading powder-maker Vihtavuori will be a Platinum sponsor for the 2024 G.B.F.C.A European F-Class Championships slated for September 3 to 8, 2024 in Great Britain. The competition will be held at the world-famous Stickledown Range at the Bisley National Shooting Centre in the UK. This has been the home of the UK’s National Rifle Association since 1890.
The Championships are expected to bring more than 270 top shooters to compete in F-TR and F-Open classes. The event consists of both individual and team matches at 800, 900 and 1000 yards. There are daily Aggs and Grand Aggregates on Friday and Saturday. CLICK HERE for more information about the 2024 G.B.F.C.A European F-Class Championships. You can also visit www.gbfclass.com.
The 2024 European F-Class Championship event is run by the GB F-Class Association. “We’re really thrilled to extend our partnership with Vihtavuori as one of our main sponsors. Working together to create this successful event strengthens the shooting community and offers great development opportunities for our sport”, comments Richard Jones, Chairman of the G.B.F.C.A committee.
“The G.B.F.C.A European F-Class Championships is one of the long range shooting season’s highlights. We’re excited and proud to support this event that brings together the world’s top F-class shooters”, states Vihtavuori Sales & Marketing Manager Olof Borgstrom.
When most shooters think of biathlon, they imagine the winter sport which combines cross-country skiing with rimfire rifle shooting. Now there’s a new type of biathlon, a true “run and gun” competition with rifles and pistols. The Gun Run competitors move on foot over natural terrain, with 5-8 shooting stages over the course, typically 5 km (about 3 miles).
The Gun Run is a two-gun, centerfire biathlon. It is designed to test your physical fitness, marksmanship, and equipment. Competitors will carry their rifle, pistol, ammunition, mags and anything they believe they need to complete the course. They will travel over various distances depending on the match — but most often a 5 kilometer marked course consisting of natural terrain, roads, and trails. There will be anywhere from 5 to 8 shooting stages. There are night events, two-person team events, and even a land navigation event where you must use map and compass to complete the course.
The Gun Run is not a CrossFit competition and it’s not USPSA. This is a challenging event that test personal fitness and marksmanship with both rifle and pistol.
How to Participate in The Gun Run Events
Click below for the list of The Gun Run 2024 Events with links to sign-up pages. The next competition is slated for June 22, 2024 at The Sawmill Tactical Training Complex in Laurens, South Carolina. That event is currently full, but spectators are allowed. The next open event will be held September 28, 2024 at DeWitt’s Outdoor Sports in Ellerbe, North Carolina. Entry fee is $110.
Origins of The Gun Run
This isn’t a new concept … matches like this originated in Texas 20 years ago and have spread all over the country. Prior to that, Colonial Era Americans would gather on the village green sometimes multiple times a week and conduct close order drill with rifle marksmanship competitions. Shooting is as old a past time for this country as this country is old.
Fitness Challenge
Carrying all your gear in 90 degree weather up and down hills is not easy. Having the best gear and being a good marksman can help but having a level of fitness where you can maneuver with gear on is extremely important. The end result of all of this is improving your training plan. Whether it be physical or on the range, every event you compete in should give you areas to work on. Sometimes new kit needs to be bought but most often it is our fitness that needs the most improvement.
Along with SSP and ESP, there are three other main IDPA classes: Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP) for .45 ACPs (mostly 1911 types), Concealed Carry Pistol (CCP), and Revolver (REV). All classes have a minimum power factor. Scores are based on time and shot placement on the IDPA target.
