How accurate can a .45 ACP pistol be, in the hands of an expert marksman? Take a look at that target. This was shot off-hand (no rest) with ONE HAND at FIFTY (50) Yards. That’s TEN shots at 50 yards all inside the 3.36″ 10-Ring with eight shots in the 1.695″ diameter X-Ring.* We bet most folks would have trouble matching that with a scoped rifle shot standing.
Amazing Handgun Accuracy at 50 yards
This remarkable feat of precision pistol shooting — a 100-8X group at 50 yards — was accomplished a few seasons back by PFC Jason Gregoire, a talented young USAMU pistol marksman. And yes, that was done by Jason shooting one-handed!
On its Facebook Page the USAMU posted: “Check out this impressive target by PFC Jason Gregoire of the USAMU Service Pistol Team! This was shot one-handed, with a .45 pistol, and at 50 yards during the Centerfire Match in Columbus, Ohio [on 7/1/2020]. The score was 100-8X. Now that is some marksmanship!”.
How to Improve Your Pistol Skills
Want to improve your bullseye pistol shooting skills? Then watch a series of videos hosted by Brian “Gunny” Zins, a 12-time National Pistol champion, and retired U.S.M.C. Gunnery Sergeant. Here is one the Fundamentals of Bullseye Pistol Shooting videos that Zins produced with the NRA and Shooting Sports USA.
12-time National Pistol Champion Brian Zins Explains Aiming and Trigger Control.
Pistol Competitors (.45 ACP) at 2019 NTT Match at Camp Perry, Ohio.
* This 10-shot group was shot on the NRA B-6 50-yard Pistol Target. Here are the ring dimensions as stated in the NRA Precision Pistol Rules (p. 15):
The CMP M14 Heritage Match was held Sunday, August 3, 2025 at the Viale Range at Camp Perry.
M1A rifles at M14 Heritage Match at Camp Perry Shooting USA TV has a good show this week featuring the M14 Heritage Match at Camp Perry, Ohio. One of most popular matches held during the CMP National Matches at Camp Perry, the Franklin Armory M14 Heritage match features M1A rifles, which are a modern, semi-auto version of the M14. The 2025 M14 Heritage Match was held Sunday, August 3, 2025, at the CMP 2025 National Rifle Matches.
Shooting USA SHOW TIMES: This Shooting USA Episode airs Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific; 8:00 PM Central. If you miss the regular broadcast, you can stream the show online at any time on Vimeo for $0.99 per episode.
History of the M14 Heritage Match and Springfield M1A Match
The Franklin Armory M14 Heritage Match, previously the Springfield Armory M1A match, began with one man’s concept. Springfield Armory’s Mike Doy witnessed the waning of classic M1 Garand and M1A rifles from the competitive High Power firing lines. “I really wanted to get those M1A rifles out of safes and closets and back out onto the field. So [in 2008] I promoted the idea of running an M1A-specific match at Camp Perry. That first year we had over 600 competitors and spectators.”
Take the time to WATCH this 3-minute video. It has great match footage of Camp Perry and interviews with M1A competitors. Well worth watching!
M1A Competition at Camp Perry National Matches
For many years, the semi-auto version of the M14 was “top dog” in iron sights Service Rifle competition. Now that discipline is dominated by .223 Rem (5.56×45) AR-type rifles, but the bigger .308-caliber rifle, now sold as the M1A, remains popular and is the star of the popular “M14 Heritage Match”.
Dick Jones reports that accurized M14/M1As could post remarkable scores: “The accuracy potential of the M14/M1A is unquestionable. During their reign as service rifles, they produced multiple perfect 200 scores at 600 and 1000 yards in the hands of top shooters. This is a difficult feat with a modern, scoped, magnum-caliber rifle and remarkable with an iron-sighted battle rifle. Good competition rifles can group 10 shots under one MOA, and the meticulously-massaged rifles used by the top shooters during my career would consistently put up 10 shots under an inch at 200 yards off a test cradle.”
M1A Match Equipment Rules and Course of Fire
Renewed interest in the M1A led to the first dedicated Camp Perry M1A match in 2008. That first-ever match drew over 500 shooters. Match equipment rules allow pretty much all types/grades of M1As. The one-day course of fire consists of 50 shots at 300 yards on the NRA MR-65F target, as follows: 5 sighters; 20 shots slow-fire prone; 10 shots rapid-fire prone; 10 shots rapid-fire, kneeling or sitting; and 10 shots slow-fire standing. Here are photos from the 2014 MIA match, courtesy NRA General Operations.
This month the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) will offer multiple events at the Camp Perry Facility in Ohio, including a Veterans’ Day Program (free for Veterans) at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center. The Competition Center, on the grounds of the Camp Perry National Guard Training Site in Port Clinton, Ohio, is open to the public. The facility houses a retail store, classroom, common area, Laser Shot simulators, and an 80-point indoor electronic target range for air rifle and air pistol.
Later in November there will be a Turkey Shoot Air Rifle Benchrest Match on November 18th. This will be open to the general public and the top shooters can receive a turkey as a prize.
Upcoming events include:
November 11, 12-8 p.m. – Veterans Day – Veterans receive free admission for the air range and Laser Shot simulators.
November 18, 6 p.m. – Turkey Shoot Bench Match – Participants fire air rifles from a support block, equipment provided! Prizes will be awarded to the top three places.
December 16, 5-8 p.m. – Holiday Party – Festive music, refreshments and more!
Bring your own equipment or you can shoot air rifles provided by the facility. Trained staff members will supervise activities and provide safe oversight during training and matches. All ages are welcome. However, juniors must be at least 10 years old to handle air rifles or air pistols.
The CMP M14 Heritage Match was held Sunday, August 3, 2025 at the Viale Range at Camp Perry.
M1A rifles at M14 Heritage Match at Camp Perry
Today we feature the M1A rifle. Last week, the rugged M1A rifle, descended from the M1 Garand and M14, was the star of the show at Camp Perry. The M14 Heritage Match was held last Sunday, August 3, 2025, at the CMP 2025 National Rifle Matches.
History of the M14 Heritage Match and Springfield M1A Match
The M14 Heritage Match, previously the Springfield Armory M1A match, began with one man’s concept. Springfield Armory’s Mike Doy witnessed the waning of classic M1 Garand and M1A rifles from the competitive High Power firing lines. “I really wanted to get those M1A rifles out of safes and closets and back out onto the field. So [in 2008] I promoted the idea of running an M1A-specific match at Camp Perry. That first year we had over 600 competitors and spectators.” After running as a Springfield Armory-sponsored match (with cash prizes) for many years, the match is now the “M14 Heritage Match”.
Folks, take the time to WATCH this 3-minute video. It has great match footage of Camp Perry and interviews with M1A competitors. Well worth watching!
Nick Till in 2009 M1A Match. Nick was the 2007 Service Rifle Nat’l Champion. Photo courtesy NRA Blog.
M1A Competition at Camp Perry National Matches
For many years, the semi-auto version of the M14 was “top dog” in iron sights Service Rifle competition. Now that discipline is dominated by .223 Rem (5.56×45) AR-type rifles, but the bigger .308-caliber rifle, now sold as the M1A, remains popular. The CMP hosts a major M1A Match every year at Camp Perry now called the “M14 Heritage Match”. Significant prizes are awarded. In past years M1A Match competitors took home over $25,000 worth of cash and merchandise when the match was sponsored by Springfield Armory.
Photo courtesy Civilian Marksmanship Program.
M1A Match 2016 — Rapid Fire Sitting Stage
In the April 2018 issue of Shooting Sports USA, you’ll find a good article on the civilian version of the M14, now sold commercially as the Springfield M1A. An evolution of the battle-proven M1 Garand, the M14 was designed to shoot the 7.62×51 (.308 Win) round instead of the larger .30-06 Springfield cartridge used in WWI, WWII and Korea. While the vast majority of today’s M1As are chambered for .308 Win/7.62×51, Springfield Armory also produces a 6.5 Creedmoor version.
Dick Jones reports that accurized M14/M1As could post remarkable scores: “The accuracy potential of the M14/M1A is unquestionable. During their reign as service rifles, they produced multiple perfect 200 scores at 600 and 1000 yards in the hands of top shooters. This is a difficult feat with a modern, scoped, magnum-caliber rifle and remarkable with an iron-sighted battle rifle. Good competition rifles can group 10 shots under one MOA, and the meticulously-massaged rifles used by the top shooters during my career would consistently put up 10 shots under an inch at 200 yards off a test cradle.”
In this video, YouTube Reviewer Hickok 45 compares the M1 Garand and the M14/M1A:
“Descended from the M1 Garand, the M14 utilized multiple improvements that made it a far superior firearm for combat and a much better rifle for competition.” — Dick Jones, Shooting Sports USA.
M1A Match Equipment Rules and Course of Fire
Renewed interest in the M1A led to the first dedicated Camp Perry M1A match in 2008. That first-ever match drew over 500 shooters. Match equipment rules allow pretty much all types/grades of M1As. The one-day course of fire consists of 50 shots at 300 yards on the NRA MR-65F target, as follows: 5 sighters; 20 shots slow-fire prone; 10 shots rapid-fire prone; 10 shots rapid-fire, kneeling or sitting; and 10 shots slow-fire standing. Here are photos from the 2014 MIA match, courtesy NRA General Operations.
See how the modern M1A is built in this Springfield Armory Video:
As racing improves automobiles, competition improves firearms, and the current crop of Springfield M1As, from the Basic to the top-of-the-line Super Match and Loaded models, reflects the years of development. The M14 and its variants are … still considered by many to be the best battle rifle in the history of the U.S. Military. — Dick Jones, Shooting Sports USA
For the next four days — July 31 through August 3, 2025 — the .30-06 M1 Garands and classic military rifles will fill the firing lines at Camp Perry. The National John C. Garand, Springfield, Vintage and Modern Military Match (GSMM) concludes Saturday, August 2, 2025, followed by an M14 Heritage Match and Vintage Sniper Match on Sunday, August 3rd. SEE CMP National Matches 2025 Calendar.
Some participants will shoot just one rifle type, but there is also a combined GSMM 4-Gun Aggregate. This GSSM Agg encompasses a series of position shooting matches on NRA SR targets at the CMP Nationals. Match scores will be posted on the CMP National Matches Results Page.
This video shows the Garand Match at Camp Perry. The rifles are still the same a decade later…
The annual GSMM event is one of the most popular events at Camp Perry, drawing participants from around the nation. One of America’s top GSSM shooters is Brian Williams, who was profiled in our Daily Bulletin. The 4-gun Aggregate includes M1 Garand, 1903 Springfield/1917 Enfield (or similar bolt rifle), M1 Carbine, and AR-type rifle for “Modern Military”.
GSMM matches attract new shooters as well as older competitors. You don’t need to make a huge investment in rifles or optics. We have friends who have done well with a “box stock” 1903 A3 Springfield they acquired from the CMP decades ago. On the firing line are a mix of seasoned competitors and novice shooters. They all come together to share common interests in marksmanship and historic firearms.
During CMP GSMM matches, CMP staff members are always on hand to ensure safety on the firing line and answer questions. This match is fun and efficient. The electronic targets, with monitors at each station, show shot location/score instantly. And there is no pit duty. Competitors never have to venture downrange to change or retrieve targets.
E-Targets at 2025 CMP National Matches
After years of testing, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) will make full use of eTargets at the 2025 National Rifle Matches at Camp Perry, which run July 20 through August 9, 2025. The advanced Kongsberg eTargets will be used at all Highpower rifle matches, National Trophy Rifle competitions, and Rifle Games events. In addition the eTargets will be used for the Rimfire Sporter Match on July 20 and the National Mid/Long Range Matches in August. The use of eTargets eliminates the need for pit duty, drastically cutting down the duration of each match. CLICK HERE to learn more about Camp Perry eTargets.
The National President’s 100 Match is a famous competition held at Camp Perry every summer. This year’s President’s 100 Match takes place today, July 28, 2025. SEE 2025 Camp Perry NM Calendar.
This is a huge event. in recent years, there have been over 1000 ranked competitors from throughout the nation, making this one of the biggest rifle events of the year. Credit our friend Dennis Santiago for this report. Dennis has competed in the President’s 100 in recent years.
Image from Shooting USA TV which has broadcast highlights from President’s 100 match.
The President’s 100 Rifle Match is richly steeped in history. This unique match was first held in 1878. Above is the view from the line at 600 yards. The top 100 competitors overall in the President’s Rifle Match are designated as the President’s 100. They receive President’s 100 medallions and certificates.
Looking downrange at the 600-yard targets. Camp Perry photos courtesy Dennis Santiago.
President’s 100 Shoot Off — The Top 20 shooters compete in the Shoot-Off.
President’s 100 Course of Fire
There is a three-yardage, four-stage Course of Fire for the President’s Rifle Match Course of Fire. Firing is done on the SR target at 200 and 300 yards and the MR target at 600 yards. Scores in stages 1-3 determine the President’s 100 and the final rankings of competitors in 21st place and below. Scores in stages 1-4 determine the match winner and the final rankings in places 1-20. If there is a tie for first place (equal total and X-count), the tied shooters will continue to fire one-shot-at-a-time until the tie is broken. No sighters are permitted in National Trophy Rifle Matches.
Origins of the President’s Match The National Rifle Association’s President’s Match was instituted in 1878, as the American Military Rifle Championship Match. In 1884, the name was changed to the President’s Match for the Military Rifle Championship of the United States. It was fired at Creedmoor, New York until 1891. In 1895, it was reintroduced at Sea Girt, New Jersey. Today, the match is held at Camp Perry, Ohio.
The President’s Match was patterned after the Queen’s Match for British Volunteers. That British competition was started in 1860 by Queen Victoria and the NRA of Great Britain to increase the ability of Britain’s marksmen following the Crimean War.
The tradition of making a letter from the President of the United States the first prize began in 1904 when President Theodore Roosevelt personally wrote a letter of congratulations to the winner, Private Howard Gensch of the New Jersey National Guard.
After a hiatus in the 1930s and 1940s, The President’s Match was reinstated in 1957 at the National Matches as “The President’s Hundred.” The 100 top-scoring competitors in the President’s Match were singled out for special recognition.
E-Targets at 2025 National Matches — Rimfire and Centerfire
After years of testing, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) will make full use of eTargets at the 2025 National Rifle Matches at Camp Perry, which run July 20 through August 9, 2025. The advanced Kongsberg eTargets will be used at all Highpower rifle matches, National Trophy Rifle competitions, and Rifle Games events. In addition the eTargets will be used for the Rimfire Sporter Match on July 20 and the National Mid/Long Range Matches in August. The use of eTargets eliminates the need for pit duty, drastically cutting down the duration of each match. CLICK HERE to learn more about Camp Perry eTargets.
These matches are conducted by the CMP and Ohio National Guard. Since their inception, the National Matches have become a huge, national shooting sports event with over 4,500 annual participants.
SSG Sagen Maddalena fired the ceremonial first shot with a 1903 Springfield rifle, officially opening the CMP National Matches for the 2025 season.
On July 14, 2025 the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) hosted the annual First Shot Ceremony, the traditional start to the CMP National Matches. The CMP welcomed back an accomplished USAMU shooter who earned the Silver Medal at the Olympics. As visitors arrived, the 122nd Army Band played in the plaza. Then a wheeled cannon gave multiple blasts. Above the crowd, a U.S. Army Air Corps Mitchell B-25 bomber and a U.S. Navy Grumman TBM Avenger fighter-bomber flew overhead.
Emcee Christie Sewell, CMP Chief Programs Officer, introduced notables including CMP Director of Civilian Marksmanship Emeritus, Gary Anderson. After brief remarks from CMP’s Board Chair/CEO, Jerry O’Keefe, Sewell introduced the 2025 honorary First Shot Speaker, Staff Sgt. (SSG) Sagen Maddalena of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit.
SSG Maddalena — currently the number-one-ranked 50-meter smallbore athlete in the world — had some of her earliest successes at Camp Perry as a junior before earning a Silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in the women’s 50-meter 3P rifle event. She began as a junior in a California 4-H .22 rifle program and moved on to the California Grizzlies service rifle team. As a teen with the Grizzlies she earned a Distinguished Rifleman badge in 2011.
Then she became a member of the Alaska Fairbanks rifle team. She went on to become an eight-time All-American. In 2019, she enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit.
In 2023, she earned a gold medal and set a new world record in the women’s team 50-meter rifle three-position event at the 2023 ISSF World Championships. She went on to add another two gold medals in the women’s 50-meter smallbore rifle and 10-meter air rifle events at the 2024 CAT Games in Argentina. That performance secured her place on the 2025 U.S. Olympic Team.
At the First Shot ceremony, Sagen thanked the community and all those who helped to make the National Matches a success: “Let us give it our best in competition and treat each day as a new opportunity to challenge ourselves and to excel.”
CMP National Matches Schedule and Details
The 2025 CMP National matches at Camp Perry commmenced on July 6th and run through August 9, 2025. The National Matches are open to the public and have offered a wide range of events and matches since 1907. Held annually at Camp Perry, the National Matches include a wide range of events for rimfire rifles, centerfire rifles, and pistols. Listed below are event by category. Click on each discipline below for registration information, detailed match program, and schedule.
These matches are conducted by a partnership of the CMP and Ohio National Guard. Since their inception, the National Matches have become a huge national shooting sports festival with over 4,500 annual participants including many of the world’s best marksmen.
Plan Your Visit: Top 5 Areas to Explore Near Camp Perry Feature based on article by Ashley Dugan, CMP Writer
This summer, many of our readers will visit Camp Perry, Ohio to participate in the historic CMP annual National Matches. There will be smallbore and centerfire rifle matches, along with pistol matches. And this year there will be a number of new mid-range (600-yard) rifle matches. For those competing at Camp Perry this summer, there are many interesting nearby places to visit along the shores of Lake Erie. This article covers some tourism highlights in the area — the Top 5 areas visitors can explore outside of Camp Perry this summer. Many of these tourism attractions are featured in Ohio’s useful Shores and Islands website.
Marblehead and East Harbor State Park
Marblehead is a small village about 18 miles east of Camp Perry. The downtown area offers a strip of quaint shops and restaurants along with an eclectic array of artist galleries and events. Here, catch the Kelleys Island ferry or drive slowly down the picturesque coastline of the peninsula to reach the Marblehead Lighthouse – a state park with the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes (since 1822). The spot has a good nautical museum on the grounds. Fish off the rocks, have a picnic or take in views of the world-famous amusement park, Cedar Point, located just across the bay. For more outdoor activities, Marblehead offers East Harbor State Park, with a public beach, a marsh pond, camping and breathtaking views.
Port Clinton, Put-In-Bay, Liberty Aviation Museum
Port Clinton is the city where Camp Perry is located. Nestled along the shore of Lake Erie, Port Clinton offers beaches, restaurants, festivals. and live outdoor music during the summer months. Ride the fast, Jet Express catamaran ferry to Put-In-Bay, visit the old Port Clinton Lighthouse, reserve your spot on one of the many charter fishing boats or grab a basket of fried Lake Erie perch.
Visitors may also visit the Liberty Aviation Museum, which showcases several authentic World War II aircraft and a fully operational Ford Tri-motor “Tin Goose” — one of only a few still flying. Learn more about Port Clinton at PortClinton.com.
Catawba Island
No more than a 10-minute drive from downtown Port Clinton is Catawba Island, which offers several fun options. The Gideon Owen Wine Company serves up local wines, with roots dating back to the 1870s. Just down the road, The Orchard restaurant offers farm-to-table options in an upscale atmosphere. Try fresh seafood or Wagyu beef, and listen to the live entertainment. Visit the farm stand next door for a salad or hot honey & whipped feta dip, or simply sip on some wine in the garden area. Later you can watch the sunset over the lake at Catawba Island State Park, find yet another ferry to Put-In-Bay, play putt-putt or maybe even take a tour of African Safari Wildlife Park, a member of the Zoological Association of America and home to many exotic animals and drive-through encounters.
Sandusky and Cedar Point
Just a short drive across the bay, you’ll find Sandusky, which is home to Cedar Point, a large amusement park opened in 1870 that now has over 70 thrill rides, including 18 roller coasters. The park is built within its own peninsula and holds a mile-long sandy beach and water park. Kalahari Resort & Convention Center, located in Sandusky, is Ohio’s largest indoor water park. Buy a day pass to the many pools and water slides. This is the USA’s #1 indoor water park according to USA Today. Other Sandusky amenities include the Sandusky Mall, a Merry-Go-Round Museum, a speakeasy bar, and the Jackson Street Pier with a variety of restaurants to enjoy. Learn more about Sandusky at CityofSandusky.com.
Lake Erie Islands
The Western Basin of Lake Erie, where Camp Perry is located, is home to several unique islands. Just a short ferry ride away, guests may rent golf carts, bikes, or take their own transportation. Such islands include South Bass, home to Put-In-Bay. The island is also home to Heineman Winery, founded in 1888. While at the winery, explore Crystal Cave, one of the largest geodes in the world, and Perry’s Cave, a limestone cavern discovered in 1813. Families may also visit the Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial, at 352 feet, one of the tallest monuments in the USA.
Viewable from South Bass is Kelleys Island, another fun destination in Lake Erie. The island offers historic homes, bed & breakfasts, and a State Park where you can camp, sunbathe, swim, or rent kayaks. Next to the beach is the Glacial Grooves, a natural phenomenon created when a massive glacier moved through the area millions of years ago, forming the Great Lakes.
The CMP’s hugely popular Rimfire Sporter event runs Sunday, July 20, 2025 at Camp Perry, Ohio. Prior to the Sunday match, on Saturday, July 19th, the CMP will host the Rimfire Check-In and a CMP Rimfire Clinic.
New Range Location Will Have E-Targets
Unlike past years, the 2025 National Rimfire Sporter match will be held on Camp Perry’s Petrarca Range — equipped with CMP eTargets. This should please the hundreds of Rimfire Sporter competitors. The Petrarca range features more conveniences, such as a covered firing line and adjacent parking. Moreover, the eTargets should improve the experience for competitors. Brian Williams, CMP Highpower Manager, explained: “The matches should run faster, without the need to hang targets and do the scoring.”
E-Targets for Rimfire Sporter Match This Year
For the first time, this summer the CMP will utilize the electronic targets of Petrarca Range for the National Rimfire Sporter Match. Featuring Kongsberg Target System (KTS) technology, the system includes monitors at each firing point.
The eTargets will permit the Rimfire Sporter Match to run more smoothly and efficiently. Competitors won’t have to walk down-range between relays to change targets, and scores will be tracked and recorded instantly. Monitors placed alongside each competitor will instantly show shot placements during the match, while suspended displays above the firing line will allow spectators to follow along with each shot in real time.
Popular Match for Junior and Adult Competitors
The National Rimfire Sporter Match, one of the most well-attended events of the annual National Matches, is open to both adults and juniors of all experience levels. Using .22 caliber rifles at 25 and 50 yards, participants in the match traditionally chose from three separate classes: Open Sight (O), Telescope Sight (T) and Tactical Unlimited (TU). Due to high demand, the CMP has added an “M-class” for 2025 to give competitors the option to use U.S. military rimfire training rifles during competition. Competitors may enter in Single or Double Entry options and then select the rifle class(es) in which they will fire.
Firing is done at 25 and 50 yards in prone, sitting, and standing positions, in slow and rapid-fire modes. For each Class, awards are offered to High Juniors, High Seniors, and High Women as well as Overall Winners.
If there is a single CMP event at Camp Perry every summer that offers the highest level of shooter satisfaction, the most diverse group of competitors, and the lowest cost of entry, that would have to be the annual Rimfire Sporter Match. Shooters range in age from young juniors to seniors in their 70s and 80s. And persons with disabilities can compete as well, with Adaptive Shooting Programs for physically-challenged competitors.
Each year, the Rimfire Sporter Match attracts hundreds of shooters to Camp Perry. National Rimfire Sporter competitors can use affordable sporter rifles with either scopes or iron sights. All you need are a .22 LR rifle, a simple sling, and ammo. Rifles may be manually operated or semi-automatic, in four classes: the standard “O Class” for open-sighted rifles, “T-Class” for telescope-sighted rifles, the “TU Class” for Tactical and unlimited rifles, and the new “M-Class” for Military Rimfire Training Rifles.
Rimfire Sporter Course of Fire
Competitors will 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. To learn more about the National Rimfire Sporter Match, CLICK HERE.
Learn more about the National Rimfire Sporter Match at TheCMP.org website.
With the New Year approaching, we thought our readers might enjoy some historical background on the National Rifle Association, an organization which has served American firearms owners and marksmen for over 150 years.
Shooting Sports USA (SSUSA) has a good article on the origins and history of the National Rifle Association. This feature story covers the first 36 years of NRA history from 1871 to 1907. The NRA was founded in 1871, and 1907 marked the first year of Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio.
SSUSA explains the NRA’s original mission: “The NRA’s program during its youthful years centered mainly on improving marksmanship among the military. Rifle tournaments at ranges in Creedmoor (NY), Sea Girt (NJ), and Camp Perry (OH) captured the country’s spirit of nationalism and resulted in key improvements in rifles and target scoring. NRA also set standards for military rifle training and even inspired the federal government to form its own segment within the War Department to focus on promoting rifle practice among soldiers as well as civilians.”
1871 — A group of New York National Guardsmen founded the National Rifle Association to promote marksmanship training. Figures such as Capt. George Wingate had called for better rifle marksmanship to support the nation’s defense.
1872 — The NRA acquires Creed’s Farm in Long Island, New York for $26,250. Renamed “Creedmoor”, this becomes the NRA’s first range. The first match was held in 1873.
1874 — The NRA hosts its first International Match, shot at the Creedmoor Range in New York.
The First-Ever Creedmoor Challenge Match in 1874
The Irish International Shooting team arrived in New York on the 16th of September and proceeded to “take in the sights”, which was understandable, before some practice at the Creedmoor range. On September 26th they presented themselves for the match with confidence and in high spirits. The crowds that day were reported to be between 5,000 and 10,000 strong, which showed the huge support already growing for the fledgling sport in America.
The course of fire was 15 shots to each man at 800, 900, and 1000 yards. Unfortunately, the details of each mans scores at the individual distances have been lost to time but we do know that the Americans were well ahead after the 800-yard shoot. The Irish then caught up after the 900-yard and finished the 1000-yard shoot ahead by 1 point. The Americans still had one man left to shoot and it came down to his very last shot with which he scored a 4 giving the American team the win over the Irish by 3 points.
1892 — The NRA moves its Annual Matches to the Sea Girt Range in New Jersey, which was less than 60 Miles from New York City, NY. The Sea Girt Range was maintained by the New Jersey State Rifle Association, founded in 1878.
1903 — The U.S. War Department sets up a National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice (NBPRP). In 1903, an amendment to the War Dept. Appropriations Bill established the NBPRP to promote both Military and Civilian marksmanship. This government advisory board became the predecessor to today’s Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety that now governs the CMP.
1907 — The NRA commences National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio.
History of Camp Perry
The National Matches have been held at Camp Perry since 1907. The range is located along the shores of Lake Erie in northern Ohio near Port Clinton. The site was first acquired in 1906, in response to the need for a larger facility for military training and the NRA’s shooting programs. In 1906 Gen. Ammon B. Crichfield, Adjutant General of Ohio, ordered construction of a new shooting facility on the shores of Lake Erie, 45 miles east of Toledo, Ohio. The original land for Camp Perry was purchased in 1906, and the reservation was named after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the American naval commander who won the Battle of Put-in-Bay during the War of 1812.
On August 19, 1907, Cpl. L. B. Jarrett fired the first shot at the new Camp Perry Training Site. And that year, 1907, Camp Perry held its first National Pistol and Rifle Championship events. This location has hosted the annual NRA National Matches ever since. Today, over 4,000 competitors attend the National Matches each year, making it the most popular shooting competition in the western hemisphere.
Federal legislation originally launched the National Matches. The 1903 legislation also established the National Matches, commissioned the National Trophy and provided funding to support the Matches.
Amazing Handgun Accuracy at 50 yards
The National Rifle Association’s President’s Match was instituted in 1878, as the American Military Rifle Championship Match. In 1884, the name was changed to the President’s Match for the Military Rifle Championship of the United States. It was fired at Creedmoor, New York until 1891. In 1895, it was reintroduced at Sea Girt, New Jersey. Today, the match is held at Camp Perry, Ohio.
E-Targets for Rimfire Sporter Match This Year
