John Whidden is a 6-time National High Power Long Range Champion. He has also won major Palma matches in the USA and abroad. But John’s stellar marksmanship skills are not just limited to long range centerfire shooting. This month John added to his impressive list of shooting titles with a notable victory in the 2024 CMP Smallbore (.22 LR Rimfire) Championship match held at Camp Perry, Ohio.
In today’s Sunday GunDay story, John examines that CMP Championship match and the smallbore match rifle he used. This is a unique, one-of a kind rig, put together with a combination of premium components from multiple manufacturers. John’s ultra-accurate .22 LR rifle features a PQP 2500X action, Tec-Hro Fanatic stock, MullerWorks barrel, Uptagrafft Tuner/Bloop Tube, and Anschutz trigger. For different segments of the smallbore competition the rifle is fitted with iron sights or a Nightforce scope.
CMP Match Report — Whidden Wins Match with Final Shot
The 2024 National Smallbore Prone 6400 Aggregate Championship came down to millimeters. The event was part of the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s 2024 National Matches and was the culmination of four straight days of prone competition. Tight qualification matches saw the top three places separated by one point each, with John Whidden of Nashville, GA, leading the pack on the last leg of the match.
Whidden had been consistent throughout his entire National Matches appearance, having only dropped five points in the previous 15 rounds of the competition. His confidence continued as he took each shot. Then, unexpectedly, he pulled one left — just grazing the edge line of the 10-ring. An eye opener, to be sure.
Despite the close call, he pressed on. “A Prone 6400 Match is a marathon, and this, essentially, was a photo finish,” said Brad Donoho, CMP Smallbore Manager.
Whidden took his final shot, another 10. With a sigh of relief, John packed up his gear and walked off the firing line with a perfect score of 400 and the overall Open win in the Smallbore Prone 6400 Aggregate with a score of 6395-515X. “He finished out the match really strong”, Donoho said. “To see it all come down to the last shot was really incredible.”
Winning 2024 CMP Smallbore Prone Championship at Camp Perry
Report by John Whidden
The 2024 CMP Smallbore Prone National Championships are in the history books now. On the day before the match started, the CMP held a metric Dewar match. This was a bit of a warmup match and was well attended. The course of fire was 30 shots at 50 meters and 30 shots at 100 meters. I knew the match would be exciting as I got out of the car — the wind almost took the car door out of my hands! Yes, it was that kind of day.
Usually at the range, I can read the wind acceptably well, but there are occasionally some days when it just won’t come to me. The metric Dewar session was one of those days that I just couldn’t understand the wind indicators. I finished with a score of 575-24X which was below what I’d hoped for. I was feeling slapped around at this point!
Fortunately, the first day of the prone Championships was better. While still fairly windy, I found it much easier to read and finished up with 1599-103X leading the event. We shot iron sights for the first two days, and on day 2 Levi Clark shot the highest score and made up a point on my lead.
Days 3 and 4 are both shot with scopes on the gun. Usually with these scores, we see fewer points dropped. Shane Barnhart won day 3 with a blistering 1600-149X. Going into the last day I was only 1 point ahead and behind on X count. I knew with this tough group of shooters if I shot a 9 anywhere on day 4 I probably wouldn’t win it. I shot very carefully and tried to protect my points lead even if it meant giving up a few Xs along the way.
The day went well but I had a big scare on the next to the last shot. The wind picked up and I shot a 10.0 (these electronic targets will score in decimals) which is ALMOST a 9. I gathered myself for the last shot and felt my heart beating hard. I knew it had to be a good one because second place Nick Mowrer was breathing down my neck. Thankfully the shot stayed in the 10 Ring and I knew I had won the match.
Unique Rimfire Rifle with Premium Action, Stock, Barrel, & Tuner
The rifle I used for the match had just recently been built in our shop. Since opening the rimfire ammunition test range in May of 2024 we had the chance to observe some top-quality components in testing. After noting what was shooting really well, I decided to order a PQP 2500X action, a MullerWorks barrel, and a Uptagrafft Tuner/Bloop Tube. I had already purchased a Tec-Hro Fanatic aluminum stock suitable for the project and had an Anschutz trigger set aside.
MullerWorks has a highly respected standing for their barrels, especially in the rimfire community. I chose a MullerWorks 1:16″-twist barrel and finished it at 26″ OAL. I fitted a Tuner/Bloop Tube from Uptagrafft to the muzzle. This allows me to make the sight radius longer for iron sight matches and has a tuner integrated into the design.
The parts went together well. In the stock, I modified an action adapter that was intended to fit an Anschutz 54 into the Tec-Hro stock. I placed the action as far rearward in the stock as I could to make reaching the loading port easier. A benefit of the Anschutz trigger is that the trigger shoe is more forward than the Remington-type trigger, and this was a noticeable benefit in allowing the action to be mounted far back in the stock.
Call to Action-Maker about Fitting Anschutz Trigger
These PQP 2500X actions accept Remington pattern triggers but I use Anschutz triggers on all of my other prone guns. Because of familiarity I really wanted the Anschutz trigger on the new rifle. On the day before my action was to arrive I contacted Jerry Stiller who designed the action. I asked Jerry if the tang was long enough to retrofit an Anschutz trigger onto the action (Anschutz triggers are very large). He said he didn’t think it would fit. Well, things went well and the next evening I sent him a picture of my Anschutz trigger installed on the action. It has performed marvelously.
Once the rifle was all fitted and assembled, it was time to go to the test range. I shot through all of the ELEY and Lapua ammunition that we had available. One particular lot of ELEY Tenex and one lot of Lapua Center-X stood out as the winners. I shot several groups with each one and couldn’t determine a winner. Accuracy was excellent with group sizes averaging about 13.3mm (0.52″) outside to outside at 50 meters. The next evening I shot some more of each lot of ammunition and again neither ammo type was clearly better than the other. NOTE: 13.3 mm outside to outside is .303″ center to center.
Trying to break the ammunition tie, I decided to adjust the tuner on the third evening. I worked the tuner back and forth and arrived at the best setting. Up until now, I had shot the rifle with the tuner set as it arrived in the box, in this case setting number 500. On this particular rifle moving the tuner shrunk the group diameter by 4%. On some of my other rifles, I had seen a larger effect in the 14-15% range. I wasn’t unhappy though as the rifle was shooting well and importantly it was doing so very consistently.
When dry-fire training indoors, the rifle is fitted with a device on the end of the barrel that tracks barrel movement and shot location on a special electronic target. The device and target are sold together as the SCATT USB Dry-Fire Shooter Training System.
Secrets of a Rimfire Prone Champion — Whidden Wisdom 1. Shoot a High Volume of Ammo. There is really no substitute for rounds down range. The picture shows hundreds of spent cases — just a fraction of the several thousand rounds of ammo I shot from prone before the national events this summer.
2. Recognize the Difference between Training and Practicing. Training to me means that I have a defined goal that I’d like to achieve during that session. For example I may go shoot a match for training and my goal is to shoot all of my shots in the exact same wind condition and without making a sight adjustment for wind. This would help further my ability to recognize my desired wind condition.
3. Demand Top-level Accuracy from Your Rifle and Ammo. Often shooters are not objective enough about their testing and will excuse a bad shot with “I must have pulled that one” or similar comments. To win matches one needs reliable and durable accuracy across different temperatures and environmental conditions.
Major Benefits of Extensive Rimfire Ammunition Testing
Before the Championship at Camp Perry, I did significant rimfire ammunition testing, which proved very valuable. First I shot 10-round groups of all of the available lots. Next I shot 3 more 10-round groups of the lots that looked most promising. This is the same procedure we use for customer’s rifles when we test them. The worst of the initial 10 round groups was 25.4mm (1 inch) at 50 meters and the best was 12.4mm (0.49″) at 50 meters (measured outside edge to outside edge).
I want to illustrate the value of testing right here. Among the top ammunitions available one lot shot about half the diameter of a different lot. It’s just not possible to buy ammunition at random and expect the very best accuracy that way. The ammunition I chose averaged 13.3mm (0.52″) outside edge to edge at 50m across several groups. I decided to shoot the ELEY Tenex in the end. The performance of both ammunitions was equal but another of my rifles also shoots well with this lot of Tenex so that’s a bonus. Don’t think I didn’t also grab some of that Lapua Center-X and set it back for the right occasion!
Whidden Gunworks operates a state-of-the-art ammunition testing facility. You can visit the facility or ship your rifle to be tested with different lots of rimfire ammo. The Whidden facility features two testing lanes — one for testing ELEY ammo at 50 meters and a second for testing other brands (e.g. Lapua, SK, Norma, and RWS) at both 50 meters and 100 meters simultaneously, registering results for BOTH distances. For more info, visit Whiddengunworks.com/ammunition-testing.
Share the post "Sunday GunDay: Whidden Smallbore Prone Championship Rifle"
At the CMP’s 2024 National Trophy Pistol Matches, John Bickar of Menlo Park, CA, became only the third competitor in history to earn back-to-back wins in the President’s Pistol Match. John captured his second straight title shooting a 1911 pistol used by his mother, who passed in 2003. After a two-decade long hiatus, Bickar returned to the National Matches in 2023, using his mom’s cherished 1911 pistol. He won the President’s Match in 2023 and now has won a second year in a row with his 2024 victory.
John Bickar won his second consecutive President’s Pistol Match at the 2024 National Matches.
As Bickar packed his gear and waited for others to finish the President’s Match, the USAMU’s SSG Christopher Hudock told John, “That’s the highest score I’ve seen so far.” Bickar then thought: “I might’ve won this again.” Indeed he had won again, and was proud to do it with his mother’s 1911 pistol. “Glad to carry on the tradition,” Bickar said.
The President’s Pistol Match, a staple of the century-old National Matches since 1981, had 414 competitors this year. Bickar fired an overall score of 384-17X over the day — just one point above the second and third place finishers. John noted that the conditions on the day of the President’s Match were nearly ideal.
John Learned Pistol Marksmanship from his Mother and Father
Originally from Canton, Ohio, John competed at the National Matches as a junior. He comes from a line of pistol enthusiasts – with his mom, Judy, a competitor until her passing in 2003, and his dad, John, the president of the Canton McKinley Rifle and Pistol Club for 17 years before his passing in 1994.
John, with his parents’ guidance, earned his Distinguished Pistol Badge in 1993 at the age of 16 — the youngest at the time – and went on to compete in college as well as internationally attending World Championships and Pan American Games. He also trained at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado. He earned his Distinguished International Badge in 2001 and his Distinguished Rifleman Badge in 2018.
Other Notable Performances at the National Trophy Pistol Matches
Finding second behind Bickar was 1LT Lisa Emmert Traciak of Colorado Springs, who claimed the High Woman honor in the President’s Pistol event. She went on to also earn the National Woman’s Trophy as the top scoring woman in the National Trophy Individual Match (NTI), garnering a score of 280-14X, and the Rose Krelstein Trophy as the highest scoring woman in the President’s/NTI Aggregate.
Jonathan Shue of Liberty, NC, was the top overall competitor of the National Trophy Individual (NTI) event with a score of 293-15X. It was Shue’s second time earning his name on the General Custer Trophy, having previously won back in 2019. He also claimed the High Civilian title with his win and took the Anheuser Busch Trophy as the leading competitor in the NTI/NTT Individual Aggregate, with a score of 584-24X. Shue is the current national record holder in the Aggregate event.
Share the post "John Bickar Wins 2nd Straight President’s Pistol Match at Perry"
Today, .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 today, Sunday, August 4, 2024. (See CMP Camp Perry 2024 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 Garand, 1903 Springfield/1917 Enfield (or similar bolt rifle), M1 Carbine, and AR-type rifle for “Modern Military”. Remarkably, Brian won the GSMM 4-Gun at the CMP National Matches in Camp Perry three years in a row — the inaugural 2017 4-Gun Agg, plus 2018 and 2019. Below, Brian offers some thoughts on the classic wood-stocked rifles used in GSMM competition: M1 Garand, 1903 Springfield, and M1 Carbine.
M1 Garand Service and Maintenance
Shooting Sports USA (SSUSA) published an excellent article on Service and Maintenance of M1 Garand Rifles. This offers some smart tricks, such as using smoke from burning masking tape to darken the front sight post. There is also an older SSUSA article that covers basic cleaning and servicing and also explains how to upgrade the performance of your Garands. READ Article HERE.
M1 Garand Disassembly, Cleaning, and Lubrication
This Brownells video shows how to disassemble your M1 Garand.
This TekMat video explains how to clean and lubricate your M1 Garand.
Recommended M1 Garand Service Manuals
Among the many M1 Garand manuals available, we recommend the CMP’s U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1: ‘Read This First’ Manual. This booklet covers take-down, reassembly, cleaning, lubrication, and operation. The manual comes with CMP rifles or can be purchased for $3.25 from the CMP eStore. The author of Garand Tips & Tricks says: “It’s one of the best firearms manuals I’ve seen and I highly recommend it.”
The Classic Wood Guns of CMP 4-Gun Competition
Perspectives on M1 Garand, M1903A3, M1917, and M1 Carbine
CMP 4-Gun ace Brian Williams provides perspectives on the “Wood Gun” game, with suggestions on how to improve your performance with the M1 Garand, M1903 Springfield, M1917 Enfield, M1 Carbine, and other 20th Century military rifles. Brian explains what to look for…
Q: What should one look for when acquiring older rifles for CMP 4-Gun Games — M1 Garand, M1903/1903A3, M1917, M1 Carbine? What are realistic budgets for these firearms? What kind of accuracy can one expect? What upgrades are important?
Brian: All of these military surplus rifles are out there, but they are getting harder to get your hands on. And, just like everything else, the prices continue to rise. Not that long ago you could get your hands on a M1 Garand for four or five hundred dollars. In today’s market they are usually about double that price. But understand that these rifles are all unique and all have a story to tell. No two are alike, or have the same story. Just like the guns themselves, there are fewer and fewer dedicated gunsmiths for these vintage rifles. But I promise if you look for a good smith, they are out there and they are some of the most interesting people you will ever meet.
M1 Garand — Of the four (4) centerfire guns I shoot in the CMP games, my favorite has to be the M1 Garand. There were over 6 million of them produced in a very short time period, and every single one has its own unique story, and that is just cool. M1 Garands are capable of good accuracy. I believe that a well-maintained M1 with at least a replacement barrel is capable of shooting between 1 and 1.5 MOA.
M1903A3 Springfield — I find that the sights on a M1903A3 are a little easier to see than the sights of the M1903, but both are very accurate rifles. Like most military rifles in the current climate the prices have risen dramatically, but there are some gems out there that can be had for far less than $1000. The nice thing about the Springfield rifle is that almost all of the accuracy than you would want can come from just replacing a worn out 80-year-old barrel. In terms of accuracy, I think a good M1903A3 can shoot 1 MOA most of the time.
M1917 Enfield — This rifle is the newest of my collection and it shoots very well, with just a new Criterion barrel — again about 1 MOA with iron sights. These rifles are very close in price to the M1903 Springfield. But if you do your homework and keep your eyes open, there are always great deals to be found. I actually prefer shooting the M1917 to my M1903A3, due primarily to the M1917’s cock-on-close bolt which allows smoother cycling.
Public domain photo from Armémuseum (The Swedish Army Museum).
M1 Carbine — By 1945 there had been more M1 Carbines built than Garands. Today the Carbine can be harder to find, and due to the scarcity the price has shot up and most military M1 Carbines are going for more than $1000 at this point. The great thing about the M1 Carbine is that as long as you have a good ammo supply this rifle can shoot. Honest. I have had countless numbers of people that tell me that there is not an M1 carbine that will shoot. I can tell you from experience that they will, but you are going to have to put in some time with one to learn how to get it to shoot where you want it.
The M1 Carbine shoots the .30 Carbine round, with 110gr bullet going about 1990 FPS. In comparison, the .30-06 Springfield round used in the M1 Garand is almost three times more powerful than the .30 Carbine.
Share the post "Sunday GunDay: Garand and Modern Military Rifles at Camp Perry"
Photo by SFC Brandon Green, 2018 National High Power Champion.
Some of America’s most prestigious rifle matches take place at Camp Perry, Ohio over the next 17 days. The 800 Aggregate is underway now. The President’s 100 Match will be held on Monday, July 29th, followed by Individual and Team Trophy Matches. And the Garand and Modern Military events run the first weekend in August. For those competing at Camp Perry this month, we offer some insights from Tyrel Cooper, a multi-time National Champion. A past member of the USAMU, Cooper’s shooting resume includes five national championships (one each in 2008, 2011, 2012, and two in 2013). He won the 2013 NRA National Long Range Championship, as well as the 2013 NRA National Service Rifle Championship. In this article, written in 2014, Cooper explains the mental preparation that helped him win National Titles in 2013.
Below is a 2012 file photo of Ty Cooper shooting a service rifle. Cooper won the 2013 Long Range Championship using a Nesika-actioned bolt gun chambered in 7mm SAUM.
Mental Preparation by Tyrel Cooper Getting focused mentally is an important part of preparation for Perry. In 2011 I was chasing Sherri Gallagher, since then I have been chasing Brandon Green[.] If I get beat by a Service Rifle I am going to make him or her work for it. So there is your peak into my mental process. I go for the top and if I am hanging with them then the Service Rifle National Championship will come, Kind of like how I shoot for X’s and Tens will come.
Now I understand everyone is at different levels. You have to figure out what your goals are and then lie to yourself that you’ve already achieved them. Here is a trick that I used back in 2008: When I was a kid just starting out, my Dad made me read several books on shooting. One of them being With Winning In Mind by Lanny Bassham. One of the things I remember from his book is that he would make notes and place them where he would see them often. They contained his goals or stated he was already a world champion. I took a page from his book and did the same thing.
I made 3×5 cards and wrote my personal best 500 and 800 aggregate scores and taped on the horn of my truck, above the radio in my truck, on my laptop and a few other places I would see them often. Every time I saw those I would tell myself that I average those scores and I would get used to seeing them. By doing this you are lying to yourself to overcome the mental blocks the subconscious mind lays out for you.
I went from my worst year in 2007 to winning my first National Championship in 2008. I kind of slacked off in 2009 because I had reached my goals and didn’t set new ones and it showed, so I had to find new goals and motivation which I did and that pushed me back to the top.
Long story short, this is a mental sport and you have to figure out what you need to do to perform at your highest levels and breaking through those mental road blocks. You have to figure out how to get yourself to relax and control your mind keeping calm when you are shooting a personal best, either standing or on the day.
Here is a tip from my mental process from shooting. First I shoot for Xs, I took the line from the movie The Patriot and applied it to my shooting, “Aim small, miss small” and it is true. If you accept wide shots then you will keep shooting wide shots.
Winning Techniques for Rifle Competition
Slow, Solid, Smooth, Center
Always focus on the positive and good shots, and what you did physically and mentally, when you shot them. When I am nervous and need to calm myself down I tell myself: slow, solid, smooth, center.
Slow
I want my movement to be slow…
I can shoot Tens and Xs all day with slow movement.
Solid
Solid like a rock, a rock doesn’t move and that’s how I want my positions. By saying solid it reminds me to go through my little checks to make sure I am doing what I need to do make that happen.
Smooth
Smooth — that is my trigger word for smooth movement. You don’t want fast choppy movement but slow and smooth. This also reminds me to be smooth on the trigger. You can be smooth-fast or you can be smooth-slow but you have to be smooth and most people aren’t when they think they are. Just before leaving the USAMU, I walked up and down the line of five shooters during a rapid fire string and only one of them was smooth with their trigger control. It’s the second most important thing when it comes to shooting.
Center
This reminds me that I want my shots in the middle. It is just a positive reinforcement of where I want my shots to go. I shoot a reverse flat tire so it also kind of reminds me as to what I am looking for.
Story Tip from EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
Share the post "Mental Preparation for Competition — Advice from a Champion"
The 2024 NRA National Matches at Camp Atterbury, Indiana commence next week on July 22, 2024, and then run through August 19, 2024. Top rifle competitors will be looking to have their names associated with famous NRA perpetual trophies. This article covers the history of notable trophies including the Leech Cup, the Wimbledon Cup, and the Palma Team Trophy.
Shooting Sports USA has a fascinating article about the Perpetual Trophies awarded in national-level NRA matches. The story recounts the history behind the elaborate trophies, some from the 1870s. SSUSA’s Jennifer Pearsall writes: “The pieces of wood, stone and precious metal … are more than just instant recognition of achievement. They are the link of the American shooter’s present to his or her patriotic past. As you read this legacy of the NRA ranges, their founders, and the long list of cups, bowls, and plaques, realize that the history of competitive shooting is undeniably a significant part of the foundation of this country”. Read Full Trophy Story HERE.
The NRA was co-founded by Col. William Church and Gen. George Wood Wingate (ranked Captain at the time). Both Church and Wingate hoped to improved the marksmanship skills of American soldiers. One of the newly-formed NRA’s first actions was to issue: “An Act to Establish a Rifle Range and Promote Skill in Marksmanship”. That led to the opening of the famed Creedmoor Range, with a special inaugural match in June of 1873.
Many of the awards presented in the first NRA matches were cash or firearms. Some of these firearms were heavily embellished works of art. In the very first match, a member of the 22nd New York Regiment took home a gold-mounted Winchester Model 1866 valued at $100 — big money for the time.
In the 1870s shooting competitions were social as well as sporting events. Ladies and gentlemen came to watch and cheer the winners. This illustration, originally from Harpers Weekly, portrays the shooters and the viewing gallery at the 1876 Grand Centennial Championship—the “Palma” Match.
The Leech Cup — A Gift from Ireland
The Leech Cup was created for the first meeting of the American and Irish shooting teams. The elaborate cup was presented by Major Arthur Leech, captain of the the Irish team, to the Amateur Rifle Club of New York. This masterpiece of Irish silversmithing was later given to the NRA in 1901 by the New York Club. Today, the Leech Cup is the oldest trophy offered in overall NRA competitive target shooting, awarded through the National High Power Long Range Championships.
Michelle Gallagher with Leech Cup in 2013.
The Wimbledon Cup
The Wimbledon Trophy was a gift from the NRA of Great Britain. It was given, as a gesture of sportsmanship, after the the U.S. Team was denied the ability to compete in England’s Elcho Shield match, then limited to Britain, Scotland, and Ireland. To maintain friendly competitive relations, the British presented the Americans with a large, engraved, lion-footed tankard trophy to be awarded each year to the Champion U.S. long-distance rifleman.
The Palma Team Trophy
Originally named the Centennial Trophy, in honor of the Centennial celebration of the independence of the United States of America, the Palma Trophy was commissioned from Tiffany’s at a cost of $1,500. The trophy was a full-sized replica of a Roman Legion standard, executed in bronze with silver and gold inlay. On the banner of the standard was the legend, “In the name of the United States of America to the Riflemen of the world”. Above the banner was an eagle, bearing in its talons a wreath of palm leaves and a plaque on which was the single word, “PALMA”, the Latin word for palm tree, which was used by the Romans to signify victory, or the ultimate in excellence.
Because the word Palma was so easily seen, the trophy soon became known as the “Palma Trophy”, and by 1878 was referred to officially by that name. The original seven and one-half foot trophy is now lost, having not been seen since at least 1954. Serving in its place is a copy which was commissioned by Dr. Herbert M. Aitken of Eau Claire, WI. The copy was made from the original Tiffany blue-prints at a cost of $32,500. Dr. Aitken has given this copy of the Palma Trophy to the NRA for use in the Palma Match. The trophy is retained by the winning team until the next Palma Match.
In 2008, the Palma Trophy was returned to the NRA, and it was decided that the trophy, once refurbished, will travel to the host nation for the match every four years, then returned to the NRA for safekeeping.
The first competition for the Palma Team was a challenge match for which the British Commonwealth nations were invited. The match was fired in 1876 at the old Creedmoor Range on Long Island as part of the Centennial celebration of the United States. Teams representing Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and the United States took part. The match is currently fired on a four-year interval.
Share the post "Competition History — The NRA Perpetual Trophies"
The CMP’s 2024 National Rimfire Sporter Match took place yesterday, July 13th, 2024 on the Viale Range at Camp Perry. Hundreds of participants took part in this major summer rimfire competition. Click HERE for 2024 Match Photos. One of the most popular events at Camp Perry, the Rimfire Sporter Match attracts hundreds of shooters from 8 to 80 years, novices as well as experienced competitors. It is a great event for shooters who want to have fun without spending a small fortune on rifle, optics, gear and ammo. Along with the major annual Camp Perry event, other Rimfire Sporter matches are held throughout the country in connection with the CMP’s Travel Games.
The CMP Rimfire Sporter discipline is for .22 LR smallbore (rimfire) rifles that weigh 7 1/2 pounds or less. Firing is done at 25 and 50 yards in prone, sitting, and standing positions, in slow and rapid-fire modes. Even with the vast number of competitors, the Rimfire Sport match proceeds efficiently. The CMP now has a special smart-phone App that helps speed up scoring. SEE 2024 Results.
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 was held on Saturday, July 13, 2024. 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. Competitors will need a total of 60 rounds to fire the Rimfire Sporter Match plus any sighters or range alibis.
Three Classes for Rimfire Sporter
Rimfire Sporter competitors can fire in three different rifle classes. The O-Class rifles must have open sights. T-Class rifles have 6-power max scopes or receiver sights. The third class is TU Rimfire Class (Tactical and Unlimited). 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.
Rifles used during the competition may be manually operated or semi-automatic, shot hand-held with sling allowed. 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. Firing is done at 25 and 50 yards on a target with a 1.78″ ten-ring. The target is simple enough for a beginner to hit, yet challenging enough. See explanation of course of fire below. Competitors must supply their own quality ammunition for this match. For more info about the Rimfire Sporter Match, CLICK HERE.
The CMP Rimfire Sporter Rifle Match is an inexpensive, fun-oriented competition using .22 caliber sporter rifles (plinking and small game rifles). To compete, all you need is a basic rifle, safety gear, and ammunition. No fancy, high-dollar rifles are required. Many junior and senior clubs make the National Rimfire Sporter Match an annual tradition — bringing together marksmen of all ages. SEE 2024 CMP Games Rules PDF.
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 run a huge range of ages 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 the shore of Lake Erie at Camp Perry. 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 “TU Class” for Tactical and unlimited 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.
Rimfire Sporter Match Basics
The CMP Rimfire Sporter Rifle Match is an inexpensive, fun-oriented competition using .22 caliber sporter rifles (plinking and small game rifles) commonly owned by most gun enthusiasts. To compete, all you need is a basic rifle, safety gear, and ammunition. No fancy, high-dollar rifles are required.
The event is shot with standard sporter-type, rimfire rifles weighing no more than 7 ½ lbs, with sights and sling. Rifles may be manually-operated or semi-automatic. Shooters with manually-operated actions are given extra time in the rapid-fire stage to compensate for the difference.
There are three classes of competition — the standard “O Class” for open-sighted rifles, “T-Class” for telescope-sighted and rear aperture-sighted rifles and “Tactical Rimfire” class, which is a .22 caliber A4 or AR15 style rifle. Firing for all classes is done at 25 and 50 yards on a target with a 1.78″ ten-ring and an 18″ outer one-ring. Even new shooters can get hits on this target, but it’s still tough enough that a perfect 600×600 score has only been accomplished once as far as we know (Go to 2024 Results).
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has a CMP Guide to Rimfire Sporter Shooting. This FREE, 48-page digital publication covers equipment, positions, course of fire, rules, scoring and much more. You’ll find helpful “how-to” sections on aiming, sight picture, hold control, and trigger control. Reading these instructional sections can benefit any prone or three-position competitive shooter.
Share the post "Sunday GunDay: Rimfire Sporter Competition at Camp Perry"
The 2024 CMP National Matches at Camp Perry officially commence Thursday, July 11, 2024. The summer schedule concludes Saturday, August 10 with the Palma Match and awards. Click the links below to register for events at the 2024 National Matches. View other event info on the CMP website.
The National Matches is comprised of the CMP National Trophy Pistol and Rifle Matches, National Games Matches, National Smallbore Matches, National Air Gun Championships, and the National Mid-Range and Long Range Matches. Along with the competitions, the National Matches includes a variety of training clinics for all experience levels. The CMP will also run a sales center where accessories and ammo can be purchased. CLICK HERE to review the 2024 National Matches schedule and event info on the CMP website.
CMP 2024 National Matches Calendar
The 2024 CMP National Matches at Camp Perry Run Thursday, July 11, 2024 through Saturday, August 10, 2024. Here is the full CMP schedule (CLICK to ZOOM to see details in online spreadsheet):
NOTE: This CMP Calendar is hosted online in spreadsheet format. This allows you to increase display size, and also to search for specific words. CLICK HERE to view full spreadsheet calendar.
Share the post "CMP 2024 National Matches Begin This Week at Camp Perry"
Some folks say you haven’t really mastered marksmanship unless you can hit a target when standing tall ‘on your own hind legs’. Of all the shooting positions, standing can be the most challenging because you have no horizontally-solid resting point for your forward arm/elbow. Here 10-time National High Power Champion Carl Bernosky explains how to make the standing shot.
Carl Bernosky is one of the greatest marksmen in history. A multi-time National High Power Champion, Carl has won ten (10) National High Power Championships in his storied shooting career, most recently in 2012. In this article, Carl provides step-by-step strategies to help High Power shooters improve their standing scores. When Carl talks about standing techniques, shooters should listen. Among his peers, Carl is regard as one of the very best standing shooters in the history of High Power shooting. Carl rarely puts pen to paper, but he was kind enough to share his techniques with AccurateShooter.com’s readers.
If you are position shooter, or aspire to be one some day, read this article word for word, and then read it again. We guarantee you’ll learn some techniques (and strategies) that can improve your shooting and boost your scores. This stuff is gold folks, read and learn…
How to Shoot Standing by Carl Bernosky
Shooting consistently good standing stages is a matter of getting rounds down range, with thoughtfully-executed goals. But first, your hold will determine the success you will have.
1. Your hold has to be 10 Ring to shoot 10s. This means that there should be a reasonable amount of time (enough to get a shot off) that your sights are within your best hold. No attention should be paid to the sights when they are not in the middle — that’s wasted energy. My best hold is within 5 seconds after I first look though my sights. I’m ready to shoot the shot at that time. If the gun doesn’t stop, I don’t shoot. I start over.
2. The shot has to be executed with the gun sitting still within your hold. If the gun is moving, it’s most likely moving out, and you’ve missed the best part of your hold.
3. Recognizing that the gun is sitting still and within your hold will initiate you firing the shot. Lots of dry fire or live fire training will help you acquire awareness of the gun sitting still. It’s not subconscious to me, but it’s close.
4. Don’t disturb the gun when you shoot the shot. That being said, I don’t believe in using ball or dummy rounds with the object of being surprised when the shot goes off. I consciously shoot every shot. Sometimes there is a mistake and I over-hold. But the more I train the less of these I get. If I get a dud round my gun will dip.* I don’t believe you can learn to ignore recoil. You must be consistent in your reaction to it.
5. Know your hold and shoot within it. The best part of my hold is about 4 inches. When I get things rolling, I recognize a still gun within my hold and execute the shot. I train to do this every shot. Close 10s are acceptable. Mid-ring 10s are not. If my hold was 8 inches I would train the same way. Shoot the shot when it is still within the hold, and accept the occasional 9. But don’t accept the shots out of the hold.
6. Practice makes perfect. The number of rounds you put down range matter. I shudder to think the amount of rounds I’ve fired standing in my life, and it still takes a month of shooting standing before Perry to be in my comfort zone. That month before Perry I shoot about 2000 rounds standing, 22 shots at a time. It peaks me at just about the right time.
This summarizes what I believe it takes to shoot good standing stages. I hope it provides some insight, understanding, and a roadmap to your own success shooting standing.
* This is very noticeable to me when shooting pistol. I can shoot bullet holes at 25 yards, but if I’ve miscounted the rounds I’ve fired out of my magazine, my pistol will dip noticeably. So do the pistols of the best pistol shooters I’ve watched and shot with. One might call this a “jerk”, I call it “controlled aggressive execution”, executed consistently.
Share the post "How to Shoot Standing — Nat’l Champ Carl Bernosky Explains"
As a way of providing guests of the 2024 CMP National Matches more opportunities to socialize off the range, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has added Beach Parties and Movie Nights to the calendar of the Camp Perry National Matches.
These social events will be held near Camp Perry — at the beach and within the historic Hough Theater. These fun events/entertainment are open to all competitors, coaches, parents, and volunteers.
Movie Nights – Hough Theater
July 11, July 31, and August 3: 7:00 PM
• July 11 – The Sandlot
• July 31 – Top Gun: Maverick
• August 3 – Hacksaw Ridge
Doors to the theater will open at 6:00 pm, with the movies beginning at 7:00 pm. Concessions will be for sale inside the theater.
Beach Parties at Camp Perry Beach
July 9 and July 12: 5:00 – 7:30 pm
• DJ with Music
• Food Trucks or Bring Your Own Food/Drinks
• Games (cornhole, volleyball)
• Fun with Friends and Fellow Competitors
• Free Giveaways of Sunglasses and Beach Balls
Guests should bring chair or blanket for seating.
More Camp Perry Summer Services — Sales and Accommodations
On Camp Perry’s Commercial Row an array of vendors will be offering firearms, ammunition, competition gear, accessories, apparel, and more. The CMP North Store, located on the grounds of Camp Perry, offers a large selection of military surplus rifles, memorabilia, and equipment.
Accommodations — Housing for the National Matches is currently available on the grounds of Camp Perry. Accommodations include 4-person huts, cottages, barracks, RV spaces, and camp sites. In addition, numerous hotels are available in the surrounding Port Clinton, Fremont, and Sandusky areas. CLICK HERE for information on local hotels and tourism resources.
CLICK PHOTO for article on after-match activities in the Camp Perry region.
National Matches Shooting Events at Camp Perry
The 2024 CMP National Matches run July 11 through August 10 at the Camp Perry National Guard Training Site in Port Clinton, Ohio. The month-long event will feature a mix of rifle, pistol, and air gun matches and clinics for both adults and juniors. Learn more about the 2024 National Matches and review the event schedule on the CMP website at TheCMP.org/cmp-national-matches.
Share the post "CMP Adds Social Events at 2024 Camp Perry National Matches"
The CMP National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio commence July 8, 2024 with 3P Air Rifle events. The Camp Perry matches are historic, having been held since 1907 at this location on the shores of Lake Erie. The 2024 First Shot Ceremony takes place Monday, July 15 on the grounds of Camp Perry. Air Force Academy shooting coach and former Olympian Launi Meili is the 2024 First Shot Speaker. Launi will address the crowd and make the traditional First Shot to officially open the National Matches.
For this week’s Saturday at the Movies, we offer seven videos from Camp Perry. These cover both rimfire and centerfire shooting, team matches (including the famous “Rattle Battle”), along with pistol shooting. If you’re heading to Camp Perry this summer, today’s video showcase provides an informative preview. And watch the video above for a great short preview of the event.
CMP National Matches at Camp Perry — Ranges, Events, Training
This 3-minute video above shows the Camp Perry ranges and shooting facilities and explains the programs scheduled, including training courses. The video also covers nearby accommodations and explains how to register for the National Matches on the CMP website.
NTIT Team Match — “Rattle Battle” at Camp Perry
The CMP’s National Trophy Infantry Team Match (NTIT) has been a staple at the National Matches since 1922. Also known as the “Rattle Battle,” the event is one of the most unique in the competitive rifling world — scoring is based on how many hits six-person teams can score on a bank of targets during a series of 50-second firing periods at four yardages.
Watch CMP ‘Rattle Battle’ Video — 50 Seconds of Rapid Fire…
Teams fire upon eight silhouette targets from 600, 500, 300 and 200 yards during successive 50-second periods. After each rapid-fire string, team members move forward (to the next-closest distance) carrying all equipment from firing line to firing line. The video shows the California Grizzlies, one of the top junior squads. The lead photo shows the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Team in action during the NTIT match. See more in USAR “Rattle Battle” Video.
Camp Perry M1 Garand Competition — Vintage Military Rifle
The John C. Garand match is a Camp Perry classic. Note the signature Garand clip in the air.
The CMP hosts the popular M1 Garand Match as well as the Springfield M1A Match. This writer’s father carried a Garand in WWII — reason enough for me to want one. But I also loved the look, feel, and heft of this classic American battle rifle. And the unique “Ping” of the ejected en-bloc clip is music to the ears of Garand fans. Some folks own an M1 Garand for the history, while others enjoy competing with this old war-horse. The CMP’s John C. Garand Match is one of the most popular events at Camp Perry every year. There are other vintage military rifle matches.
Rimfire Sporter Event Draws Hundreds of Competitors
If there is a single CMP event at Camp Perry every summer that draws the most competitors and offers the lowest cost of entry, that would be the annual Rimfire Sporter Match. This year’s match will be held on Saturday, July 13th at the Viale Range. There will also be a CMP Sporter Live-fire Training Clinic on Friday the 12th. One of the most popular annual Camp Perry events, the Rimfire Sporter Rifle match features .22 LR competition in open sights (O-Class), telescopic (T-Class) and tactical/unlimited (TU) classes, fired at 25 and 50 yards. A CMP Rimfire Clinic will be held prior to the match.
Each year, the Rimfire Sporter Match attracts hundreds of shooters to the shore of Lake Erie at Camp Perry. 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.
Service Rifle Matches — AR-Platform Rifles, Now with Optics
Service Rifle shooting is fun yet challenging. You need to develop skills with multiple positions and be able to make rapid wind calls. However, the modern AR-based service rifle is affordable and has relatively low recoil. Highly-customizable, modern service rifles can be fitted with adjustable stocks and optional magnified optics. Older military rifles, such as the M1A and M1 Garand, offer different challenges with heavier-recoiling cartridges, greater weights, and classic iron sights. Hi-Lux asked competitors at Camp Perry during CMP’s 2021 summer games what they enjoyed most about competition with service rifles and Military rifles such as the M1 Garand. The shooters’ responses had four key themes: Self-Improvement, Comradery, History (enjoying shooting rifles with heritage), and Challenge.
Camp Perry Bullseye Pistol Competition
Camp Perry hosts the most prestigious annual trophy matches in our nation’s history. And in a venue renowned for service rifle matches, the sport of precision pistol is no less important, no less challenging, and no less respected. The National Trophy Pistol Matches are all about traditional handgunning — the stance, the intense concentration, and of course, the one-handed grip. It’s all unmistakable as the game of Bullseye Pistol. Every year there are 20+ match trophies for the top Bullseye Pistol shooters, both military and civilian. And the very best will claim National Match Trophies and receive the President’s 100 Tab.
CMP Camp Perry National Matches Registration Links
The 2024 CMP National Matches at Camp Perry officially commence Thursday July 11, 2024. The summer schedule concludes Saturday, August 10 with the Palma Match and awards. Here is the full CMP schedule (click to zoom):
NOTE: This CMP Calendar is hosted online in spreadsheet format. This allows you to increase display size, and also to search for specific words. CLICK HERE to view full spreadsheet calendar.
History of Camp Perry
“In the year 1907 the machinery of the National Matches, now grown to immense proportions, was moved to the mammoth new range at Camp Perry.”
—James Drain, Arms and the Man, August 1911
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. 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. 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 National Matches ever since. Typically over 4,000 competitors attend the National Matches each year, making it the most popular shooting competition in the western hemisphere.
Share the post "Saturday Movies: CMP National Matches at Camp Perry 2024"
The 2024 National Pistol Matches take place July 14-21 at the Camp Perry National Guard Training Site in Port Clinton, Ohio. These matches are run by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) and Ohio National Guard. If you want to shoot in the National Pistol Matches this year, it’s not too late to register (links below). CLICK HERE for more information about the National Pistol Matches.
The National Pistol events, open to adults and juniors of all experience levels, include several traditional matches like the President’s Pistol (President’s 100), National Trophy Individual, and National Trophy Team events alongside a series of 900 Aggregate matches for .22, .45, and centerfire pistol. The CMP Games competitions, such as the Military & Police and 1911 As-Issued Matches, will also be part of the National Matches schedule (see Calendar below). The last pistol matches run on Sunday the 21st, with Pistol Games Awards at the end of the day.
The GSSF GLOCK National Challenge returns to the schedule in 2024, while the Service Revolver EIC Match has been renamed the Philip Hemphill Memorial Service Revolver EIC Match in honor of Philip Hemphill, a celebrated national champion who passed in 2023. There will be plenty of talent on the firing line. In recent years, over 90% of the top 50 Service Pistol shooters were Distinguished.
CMP will also conduct indoor Air Pistol National Matches at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center. Rental air pistols are available for a modest fee.
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.
In connection with the National Matches, a Pistol Small Arms Firing School (SAFS) will be held July 15, 2024. Participants in SAFS are instructed by some of the top military marksmen and women in the country on firearm safety and competition basics, both within the classroom and on the range. All firearms and ammo are provided for the live-fire portion of the clinic.
The 2024 National Matches will include a Pistol Small Arms Firing School.
For those looking for a little extra time on the range before competing, be sure to sign up for Pistol Practice on July 15 and 16 (cost: $5.00 per practice time). Competitors will receive a Pistol Practice card at check-in, with additional practice time open for purchase (if available).
About the National Matches:
The annual National Matches have been held at the Camp Perry National Guard Training Site since 1907. The month-long series is comprised of the CMP National Trophy Pistol and Rifle Matches, National Games Matches, National Smallbore Matches, National Air Gun Championships, and the National Mid-Range and Long Range Matches. The National Matches also include educational clinics for shooters of all experience levels. View National Matches schedule and programs at: Thecmp.org/cmp-national-matches.
Share the post "Register Now for National Pistol Matches at Camp Perry in July"
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.
Share the post "CMP Rimfire Sporter Competition — How to Get Started"
Whidden had been consistent throughout his entire National Matches appearance, having only dropped five points in the previous 15 rounds of the competition. His confidence continued as he took each shot. Then, unexpectedly, he pulled one left — just grazing the edge line of the 10-ring. An eye opener, to be sure.
Today, .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 today, Sunday, August 4, 2024. (See 
Getting focused mentally is an important part of preparation for Perry. In 2011 I was chasing Sherri Gallagher, since then I have been chasing Brandon Green[.] If I get beat by a Service Rifle I am going to make him or her work for it. So there is your peak into my mental process. I go for the top and if I am hanging with them then the Service Rifle National Championship will come, Kind of like how I shoot for X’s and Tens will come.
The Palma Team Trophy
How to Shoot Standing
5. Know your hold and shoot within it. The best part of my hold is about 4 inches. When I get things rolling, I recognize a still gun within my hold and execute the shot. I train to do this every shot. Close 10s are acceptable. Mid-ring 10s are not. If my hold was 8 inches I would train the same way. Shoot the shot when it is still within the hold, and accept the occasional 9. But don’t accept the shots out of the hold.
The National Pistol events, open to adults and juniors of all experience levels, include several traditional matches like the President’s Pistol (President’s 100), National Trophy Individual, and National Trophy Team events alongside a series of 900 Aggregate matches for .22, .45, and centerfire pistol. The CMP Games competitions, such as the Military & Police and 1911 As-Issued Matches, will also be part of the National Matches schedule (see Calendar below). The last pistol matches run on Sunday the 21st, with Pistol Games Awards at the end of the day.
