The 2010 Western CMP Games & Creedmoor Cup Match in Phoenix, AZ concludes this morning with an EIC Service Rifle Match. Over the past week, many of the nation’s best “iron sights and sling” shooters vied for honors with Match Rifles, Service Rifles, Vintage Military Rifles, and Rimfire Sporters. This major annual event has drawn hundreds of competitors to the Ben Avery Shooting Facility outside Phoenix. Competition has been fierce, with some matches decided by just a point or two after multiple days. Initial results are available for many of the matches, which are listed below. Complete results will be posted on the CMP Match Results Page.
Congrats go to all the competitors in attendance. Ronald Zerr (HMaster) and Joel Sylvia (Master), both shot great to earn Creedmoor Cup victories in the Match Rifle and Service Rifle classes respectively. Creedmoor Cup High Junior was Tyler Rico, while the High Senior was Sgt. Jeremy Hafenyager. In the CMP Classes Glendale Rutherford put on a dominating performance, winning the Springfield Match, As Issued EIC Match, and Vintage Military Rifle Match. Rutherford’s strong shooting earned him Three-Gun Aggregate top honors — Rutherford finished 21 points ahead of runner-up Bill Poole in the Agg. Maury Krupp won the hotly contested Garand Match, which saw 129 shooters on the firing line.
Inspecting and grading thousands of surplus rifles is a huge task. Accordingly, the Civilian Marksmanship program seeks volunteer manpower to help with this process. In an effort to give the Garand shooting and collecting communities an opportunity to view and participate in CMP Inspection and Repair processes and to reduce labor costs, the CMP established a volunteer program starting in July, 2010. Most volunteers work for 3-5 days.
The CMP is looking for more volunteers. Assignments are based primarily on individual level of familiarity with the Garand, and the CMP’s needs at the time. Although the CMP tries to ensure that volunteers spend time working with Garands, some time may be spent in warehousing, packing, or shipping operations. Volunteers must be pre-approved, with work sessions scheduled in advance. No walk-ons. Volunteers should submit requests at least two weeks prior to planned visits (many volunteers schedule “shifts” months in advance).
The CMP reports: “[The] volunteer program that was in effect from 2001-2006 was a huge success and benefited the CMP and all the great people who had donated their time. Without exception, all past volunteers reported their visits as very educational, recreational and enjoyable. Most of the past volunteers had made several repeat visits from all parts of the country, and many have become ambassadors for the program. The CMP is a charity and expenses associated with volunteering may be tax-deductible.”
Volunteers absorb all costs for transportation, lodging and meals. Most volunteers stay 3-5 days per trip. Tools and gauges are available, but the CMP encourages volunteers to bring their own. To learn more about the CMP Volunteer program, or to schedule work sessions, contact Brian Vick at bvick [at] odcmp.com, or call 256-835-8455 x 1126.
On the Mark is a free digital newsletter available from the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). The latest On The Mark edition contains an interesting (and very candid) interview with the “Gunny” — R. Lee Ermey. A well-known TV and movie actor, Ermey served as a Gunnery Sgt. in the USMC before earning fame and fortune on the silver screen. Ermey is also an active shooter who regularly competes in CMP Garand matches and NRA High Power events. Here are some excerpts from the interview:
The Appeal of Shooting Sports
“What I like about the shooting sports is the camaraderie. It’s a bunch of great guys. They’re good patriots –- they would never burn a flag. They’re grassroots Americans and the most patriotic people I know.”
Message to New Shooters
“What I’d like to stress more than anything is that people who are nonshooters who think they might like to give this a try should buy an M1 Garand from CMP and get out here. They can buy one that’s very shootable off the rack for 600 bucks.”
On the Future of Shooting…
“As I walk up and down the firing line and I look at these old codgers out here — a bunch of old farts over the age of 50, I’m saying in another 10 or 20 years shooting sports are going to go downhill if we don’t add to the sport, so we need to groom these young people to step up and take our place.”
Good Training Article by Gary Anderson
In addition to the R. Lee Ermey interview, the current issue of “On the Mark” features an excellent four-page article on “How to Practic” for shooting event. Authored by Gary Anderson, Director of Civilian Marksmanship Emeritus, this article explains how to develop practice plans, how to practice economically using dry firing and aiming practices, and how to combine at-home practice with field sessions.
Along with feature stories, On the Mark includes match reports from both Junior and adult competition programs around the country. CLICK HERE to download the Fall issue of On the Mark (PDF).
If you’re located anywhere near Camp Perry, Ohio, you may want to plan a road trip on Saturday, 2 October, a week from today. On October 2nd, the CMP North Store is running a special Customer Appreciation Day and Open House. The store opens at 8:30 a.m. and closes at 4 p.m. in the afternoon.
Over 400 surplus military rifles will be on display. If you don’t have an M1 Garand yet, here’s you chance to hand-pick a classic rifle for your collection. CMP Armorers will help customers inspect the rifles they have picked out and assist customers with the purchasing process.
Open House visitors get free complimentary coffee and donuts in the morning and complimentary hot dogs and chips in the afternoon. In addition to food and refreshments CMP will give out free summer event T-shirts to the first 50 visitors to the store. Guests may also take home free CMP giveaways while they last, Conrad said.
The CMP North store recently reopened following an inventory organization period following the 2010 National Matches. The store sells surplus M1 Garand rifles to qualified buyers along with ammunition, books, clothing, memorabilia and a limited supply of .22 caliber rifles, air rifles and accessories. For more information, call the CMP North Store at 419-635-2141 Ext. 1505. CLICK HERE for a map and directions to the CMP North store.
This Sunday, September 26, Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk Radio will broadcast live from the Gun Rights Policy Conference in San Francisco, CA. Host Tom Gresham will interview speakers and attendees at the 25th Annual Gun Rights Policy Conference (GRPC), a free, 3-day conference that focuses on all facets of gun rights — past, present and future. Speakers at this year’s GRPC include Alan Gottlieb, Alan Gura, former congressman Bob Barr, Joseph Tartaro, Prof. John Lott, Massad Ayoob, Larry Pratt, Jeff Knox, and more.
M1 Garand and M1 Carbine Import Controversy
Also on the show this Sunday, Tom talks with Montana Senator Jon Tester about the Senator’s recent letter to Secretary Clinton and the State Department, regarding the rejection of South Korea’s proposal to sell its surplus of American-made M1 Carbines and M1 Garand rifles to the U.S. “I count myself among many gun rights advocates who fundamentally disagree with the State Department’s reasoning. Rejecting the responsible sale of legal firearms over hypothetical concerns that they could be used for “illicit purposes” sets a dangerous precedent and it is contrary to the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans,” writes Senator Tester.
In its 15th year of national syndication, Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk Radio airs live on Sundays from 2pm – 5pm Eastern, and runs on over 100 stations, plus SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio. All Gun Talk shows can be downloaded as podcasts through Apple iTunes, the Gun Talk iPhone App, or at Gun Talk’s Podcast Library. More information is available at www.guntalk.com.
Here’s a handy product for our readers who collect military rifles or who shoot in the CMP’s Garand Matches. Second Star to the Right, a company based in Stonewall, Lousiana, offers vinyl mats printed with the breakdown/assembly instructions for the M1 Garand. These mats are faithful reproductions of the 1952 Army instruction diagram used to train GIs and armorers. There are two models: 1) 30″ x 26″ Deluxe heavy-weight version with grommets ($25.00); and 2) 19″ x 14″ “Collectors Edition” lighter-weight version ($17.00). You can either use the mat draped on your bench as a cleaning surface, or hang it on the wall for decoration.
In addition to its M1 Garand mats, Second Star plans to introduce mats for other firearms such as the M14, M1 Carbine, and M16. For more information call Second Star at (318) 560-2579. Second Star’s website is not yet active, but you can send email to: the2ndstar2010@yahoo.com .
The 2010 Eastern CMP Games were held at Camp Butner, NC on 8-11 May. Now in its 4th year, the Eastern CMP Games is more popular than ever — entries were up 32% from 2009. Participation in the Eastern Games rifle events has grown from 265 event entries in 2007 to 764 entries this year. In fact, if the 83 entries in the two service pistol events and 72 entries in this year’s new Vintage Sniper Test Match are also counted, the 2010 event entry count was a whopping 919. As a result, the capacity of the three Camp Butner ranges was stretched to the limit. For the 30-shot As-Issued Military Rifle Match on Saturday, an absolute maximum of 200 shooters were squadded in four relays on a 50-point range. The 32-point Rimfire Sporter range was also filled to capacity for its two scheduled relays on Sunday afternoon.
The Creedmoor Cup segment of the event was dominated by military shooters, most of whom are with the USAMU. SPC Sherri Gallagher won the Creedmoor Cup Overall and the Match Rifle Aggregate. Sgt. Tyrell Cooper won the Creedmoor Cup for Service Rifle and the Service Rifle Aggregate. In Service Rifle Team competition, the USAMU Praslick team finished first with 1957-80X, while the Virginia Shooting Sports Assn. Team took the Match Rifle title with a 1929-58X collective score.
There were many outstanding performances at the Eastern CMP Games, highlighted by David Thompson’s double win in the Carbine Match AND the As-Issued Military Rifle 3-Gun Aggregate. This was David’s second-straight 3-Gun Aggregate win. His 2010 score, 858-19X, was two points higher than his winning Agg. for 2009.
Of the three Garand, Springfield and Vintage Military Rifle matches, the Garand Match was the most popular with 213 shooters. The match winner was Randy Ent, with an excellent 291-8X total. Sean Leighton posted a 290-5X to win the Springfield Match. Robert Pestridge, shooting a 6.5×55 Swede, won the Vintage Military Rifle Match. In the As-Issued M1 Garand Special EIC Match, Phillip Randall shot a 379-7X to top a field of 121 competitors. Among the 10 “introductory” 4-point leg EIC winners were TV personality GySgt R. Lee Ermey (USMC retired), and Hornady Ballistician Dave Emary, lead developer of Hornady’s .30-06 match ammo currently issued to CMP Garand and Springfield competitors in Regional and National Matches.
The Rimfire Sporter Match was also popular, attracting 58 shooters. Using a CZ 452 rifle, Ron Villanueva won the scoped-rifle class, posting a 595-41X T-Class score. This is the highest score ever recorded in a CMP-sanctioned Rimfire Sporter event. Congrats to Ron on his superb marksmanship. In the O-Class for open-sighted rifles, Richard Sauer had the other winning score in the Rimfire Sporter Match with a 562-14X total. Other top shooters are listed by event in the table below. You’ll find a detailed report on the CMP Eastern Games in the latest First Shot CMP Online Magazine. Complete scores for the 2010 Eastern CMP Games rifle events are posted on the CMP Website.
The 2010 14th Edition of the CMP Competition Rules for Service Rifle, Service Pistol and As-Issued Military Rifle shooting has just been released. These new rules go into effect immediately. The new rulebook can be downloaded from the CMP website. Printed copies of the new rules, which can be purchased from the CMP for $3.00 each, will be furnished to each match sponsor and National Matches competitor.
There are fewer changes this year than there have been in any of the past 10 years — a sign that military rifle and pistol rules have stabilized. Most competitors in CMP-sanctioned Service Rifle, Service Pistol, and As-Issued Military Rifle Matches will NOT have to adapt to any significant changes this year. But there are a few changes to rules regarding AR15 stocks, rapid-fire time limits in Garand matches, and coaching during Military Rifle Matches. To learn more, read the CMP website’s point-by-point Summary of 2010 Rule Changes
Tonight’s episode of Shooting USA television features the popular Garand Match held at Camp Perry, Ohio each summer. The Garand match is now the biggest service rifle competition at Camp Perry. After covering the rifle action at Camp Perry, the November 18th episode of Shooting USA visits the Springfield Armory to explore the history of John Garand’s creation.
Today the M-1 Garand is an icon of history, and a very popular rifle for competition in the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s John C. Garand Match. CMP Director, Gary Anderson says, “[The Garand] is a piece of history and a lot of people feel like it’s an honor just to be able to shoot this rifle for what it represents. Also, it’s an accessible match — you can buy an M-1 Garand for five or $600 that will allow you to compete in an event like this. You don’t have to buy a lot of expensive equipment.”
Here are Shooting USA’s Wednesday broadcast times:
Eastern Time 4:30 PM, 8:30 PM, Midnight
Central Time 3:30 PM, 7:30 PM, 11:00 PM
Mountain Time 2:30 PM, 6:30 PM, 10:00 PMt
Pacific Time 1:30 PM, 5:30 PM, 9:00 PM
From October 17-25, the Arizona State Rifle & Pistol Association will host the 6th Western CMP Games and Creedmoor Cup at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix, Arizona. Western CMP Games events will be held Oct. 17-20, while the Creedmoor Cup Matches take place Oct. 21-25. Registration deadline is October 14, 2009.
The Western CMP Games kick off with a New Shooter Clinic on Saturday, 17 Octobe in the morning. On Sunday, 18 October, there will be an As-Issued M1 Garand EIC Match in the morning where shooters lacking EIC points can earn introductory “4-point legs.” That afternoon, there will be a new event on the schedule, a Rimfire Sporter Match. The Rimfire Sporter Match is a low-key event that caters to all ages and skill levels.
For more information, or if you have questions, vist the Western Games Webpage, or contact Christina Leveck-Roguski, (419) 635-2141 x1114, croguski [at] odcmp.com.
The 2010 Western CMP Games & Creedmoor Cup Match in Phoenix, AZ concludes this morning with an EIC Service Rifle Match. Over the past week, many of the nation’s best “iron sights and sling” shooters vied for honors with Match Rifles, Service Rifles, Vintage Military Rifles, and Rimfire Sporters. This major annual event has drawn hundreds of competitors to the Ben Avery Shooting Facility outside Phoenix. Competition has been fierce, with some matches decided by just a point or two after multiple days. Initial results are available for many of the matches, which are listed below. Complete results will be posted on the CMP Match Results Page.
Congrats go to all the competitors in attendance. Ronald Zerr (HMaster) and Joel Sylvia (Master), both shot great to earn Creedmoor Cup victories in the Match Rifle and Service Rifle classes respectively. Creedmoor Cup High Junior was Tyler Rico, while the High Senior was Sgt. Jeremy Hafenyager. In the CMP Classes Glendale Rutherford put on a dominating performance, winning the Springfield Match, As Issued EIC Match, and Vintage Military Rifle Match. Rutherford’s strong shooting earned him Three-Gun Aggregate top honors — Rutherford finished 21 points ahead of runner-up Bill Poole in the Agg. Maury Krupp won the hotly contested Garand Match, which saw 129 shooters on the firing line.
Inspecting and grading thousands of surplus rifles is a huge task. Accordingly, the Civilian Marksmanship program seeks volunteer manpower to help with this process. In an effort to give the Garand shooting and collecting communities an opportunity to view and participate in CMP Inspection and Repair processes and to reduce labor costs, the CMP established a volunteer program starting in July, 2010. Most volunteers work for 3-5 days.
The CMP is looking for more volunteers. Assignments are based primarily on individual level of familiarity with the Garand, and the CMP’s needs at the time. Although the CMP tries to ensure that volunteers spend time working with Garands, some time may be spent in warehousing, packing, or shipping operations. Volunteers must be pre-approved, with work sessions scheduled in advance. No walk-ons. Volunteers should submit requests at least two weeks prior to planned visits (many volunteers schedule “shifts” months in advance).
The Appeal of Shooting Sports
If you’re located anywhere near Camp Perry, Ohio, you may want to plan a road trip on Saturday, 2 October, a week from today. On October 2nd, the CMP North Store is running a special Customer Appreciation Day and Open House. The store opens at 8:30 a.m. and closes at 4 p.m. in the afternoon.
This Sunday, September 26, Tom Gresham’s 
The 2010 Eastern CMP Games were held at Camp Butner, NC on 8-11 May. Now in its 4th year, the Eastern CMP Games is more popular than ever — entries were up 32% from 2009. Participation in the Eastern Games rifle events has grown from 265 event entries in 2007 to 764 entries this year. In fact, if the 83 entries in the two service pistol events and 72 entries in this year’s new Vintage Sniper Test Match are also counted, the 2010 event entry count was a whopping 919. As a result, the capacity of the three Camp Butner ranges was stretched to the limit. For the 30-shot As-Issued Military Rifle Match on Saturday, an absolute maximum of 200 shooters were squadded in four relays on a 50-point range. The 32-point Rimfire Sporter range was also filled to capacity for its two scheduled relays on Sunday afternoon.
The 2010 14th Edition of the CMP Competition Rules for Service Rifle, Service Pistol and As-Issued Military Rifle shooting has just been released. These new rules go into effect immediately. The new rulebook can be downloaded from the 
From October 17-25, the 
