The CMP Eastern Games ran April 25 through May 4, 2025 at the Camp Butner Training Facility in North Carolina. The 2025 Eastern Games had nearly 450 competitors from 33 states who competed in a variety of events including rimfire sporter, highpower rifle, long range rifle, and pistol. This popular event, part of CMP’s Travel Games series, combines competitions and educational clinics open to adults and juniors of all experience levels. CLICK HERE to learn more about the CMP Eastern Games.

» VIEW 2025 CMP Eastern Games Match Program

The CMP employs electronic targets for all highpower and long-range events at Eastern Games.

Here Are Some of the Notable Eastern Games Winners by Category:

Garand Match Overall: David (Greg) Ficklin, 296-6X *New Record
Long Range Aggregate: SSG Logan Frost, USA, 793-36X
Four Gun Aggregate: Keith Schachle, 1151-35X
Mid-Range 3×600 Match Rifle (and High Overall): Jerrel Neuhaus, 598-30X
Carbine Match Overall: Victor Betzold, 359-3X
Vintage Sniper Team Semi-Auto: Team Shenanigans, 395-24X *New Record
Rimfire Sporter Match Tactical: John Hawes, 596-39X *New Record
Overall Individual Pistol Aggregate: CWO4 Brian Turlington, USCG, 1546-20X

There will be modern and vintage military rifle competitions, like the Springfield, Carbine, and John C. Garand Matches, as well as the .22 Rimfire Sporter Rifle Match and Vintage Sniper team event. Mid-Range 3×600 and 1,000-yard Long Range matches, added to Eastern Games in recent years, will also make a return in 2025, as well as CMP Cup Rifle Matches – comprised of 4-Man Team, 80 Shot and EIC Rifle competitions. All rifle matches will be fired on advanced CMP electronic targets, removing pit duty. That allows matches to be concluded more quickly.

Long Range Competition at CMP Eastern Games

The newest addition to the CMP Eastern Games is the Long Range program for Palma rifles, service rifles, and F-Class rifles. KTS (Kongsberg Target System) electronic targets were used for this match as well as all other rifle matches. Shown above is a Long Range competitor shooting with scoped Eliseo Tubegun. Note the viewing screen for electronic target. In addition to the Long Range Rifle matches, there will be a mid-range 3×600 match, EIC Rifle match, 80-shot HP match, Carbine Match, Vintage Sniper Match, 4-Man Team match, and other rifle competitions.

Garand, Springfield and Modern Military (GSMM) Matches

Like other Travel Games events, those competing in the John C. Garand Match with As-Issued M1 Rifles will have the chance to earn a GCA (Garand Collectors Association) Master Marksman medal.

Service Rifle Competition at CMP Eastern Games

There were multiple matches for modern service rifles. Current rules allow ARs to be fitted with optics. In CMP and NRA service rifle competitions using AR-15 platform rifles, scopes are allowed with a maximum magnification of 4.5X and a maximum objective lens of 34mm, and the rifle, including the optic, must weigh no more than 11.5 pounds.

Rimfire Sporter Competition at CMP Eastern Games

The CMP had a good turn-out of Rimfire Sporter class competitors. Rimfire Sporter competition uses relatively inexpensive .22 LR production rifles and is a good way to enjoy a CMP match without a huge investment in rifle and scope. John Hawes set a new 596-39X record in Rimfire Sporter Tactical Class. Victor Betzold won Rimfire Sporter T-Class with 588-33.

Pistol Competition at the CMP Eastern Games

The Eastern Games included multiple pistol competitions including Centerfire, .45 and .22 Pistol 900 Aggregates and a Service Revolver EIC Match. In the pistol competitions, Daniel Kupar won the any sights category in the Pistol 2700 Aggregate with a score of 2563-95X. SFC Ryan Adams won metallic sights with 2513-59X. Martha Hall took first place for .22 only with her score of 2433-51X.

For more information about the CMP and its programs, visit TheCMP.org.

The CMP Eastern Games will run April 25 through May 4, 2025 at the Camp Butner Training Facility in North Carolina. This popular event, part of CMP’s Travel Games series, combines competitions and educational clinics open to adults and juniors of all experience levels. CLICK HERE to learn more about the CMP Eastern Games and to access the Eastern Games Registration Page.

» VIEW and Download 2025 CMP Eastern Games Match Program

There will be modern and vintage military rifle competitions, like the Springfield, Carbine, and John C. Garand Matches, as well as the .22 Rimfire Sporter Rifle Match and Vintage Sniper team event. Mid-Range 3×600 and 1,000-yard Long Range matches, added to Eastern Games in recent years, will also make a return in 2025, as well as CMP Cup Rifle Matches – comprised of 4-Man Team, 80 Shot and EIC Rifle competitions. All rifle matches will be fired on advanced CMP electronic targets, removing pit duty. That allows matches to be concluded more quickly.

Long Range Competition at CMP Eastern Games

The newest addition to the CMP Eastern Games is the Long Range program for Palma rifles, service rifles, and F-Class rifles. KTS (Kongsberg Target System) electronic targets were used for this match as well as all other rifle matches. Shown above is a Long Range competitor shooting with scoped Eliseo Tubegun. Note the viewing screen for electronic target. In addition to the Long Range Rifle matches, there will be a mid-range 3×600 match, EIC Rifle match, 80-shot HP match, Carbine Match, Vintage Sniper Match, 4-Man Team match, and other rifle competitions.

Garand, Springfield and Modern Military (GSMM) Matches

Like other Travel Games events, those competing in the John C. Garand Match with As-Issued M1 Rifles will have the chance to earn a GCA (Garand Collectors Association) Master Marksman medal.

Service Rifle Competition at CMP Eastern Games

There will be multiple matches for modern service rifles. Current rules allow ARs to be fitted with optics. In CMP and NRA service rifle competitions using AR-15 platform rifles, scopes are allowed with a maximum magnification of 4.5X and a maximum objective lens of 34mm, and the rifle, including the optic, must weigh no more than 11.5 pounds.

Rimfire Sporter Competition at CMP Eastern Games

The CMP expects a high turn-out of Rimfire Sporter class competitors. Rimfire Sporter competition is conducted with relatively inexpensive .22 LR production rifles and is a good way to enjoy a CMP match without a huge investment in rifle, fancy optics, and shooting gear.

Pistol Competition at the CMP Eastern Games

The Eastern Games will include multiple pistol competitions including Centerfire, .45 and .22 Pistol 900 Aggregates and a Service Revolver EIC Match. Those interested in learning more about the sport may also sign up for the Pistol Marksmanship 101 courses taught by certified CMP instructors.

For more information about the CMP and its programs, visit TheCMP.org.

For today’s Sunday GunDay story, we feature a very talented young lady shooter, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant (SSG) Erin McNeil. Erin, who started shooting as a young teen in a 4H program, is now one of the leading service rifle and high power shooters in the nation. Erin McNeil claimed the 2021 Interservice Individual Rifle Championship with an impressive score of 996-52X, beating out 86 other service members (mostly guys BTW). That score also earned Erin the title of High Woman.

The 2021 Interservice Rifle Championships (IRC) continued with other events, including the 1000-yard match. Shown below is SSG McNeil competing in the IRC 1K Match. CLICK HERE for more match photos.

Staff Sgt. Erin McNeil hails from Fort Wayne, Indiana. She has a B.S. in Mathematics from Texas Christian University (TCU), and holds the military occupational specialty of battle management system operator. With the USAMU, SSG McNeil has served on the International Shooting Team and the Service Rifle Team. As a USAMU team member, SSG McNeil has earned the President’s 100 Tab, Rifleman’s EIC Badge, and Bronze Medal at the 2014 World Championship in 3-Position/50m Smallbore Rifle.

Along with centerfire shooting, Erin enjoys smallbore competition. She won the Bronze Medal competing in 3-Position/50m Smallbore Rifle at the 2014 World Championships.

Erin enjoys shooting competition because “It’s really between you and the gun. It’s a very mental game. I think shooting is a great sport… as long as you are able to compete within yourself.”

McNeil started shooting through a 4-H program while in the 8th grade and then shot in college with the TCU Rifle Team. Now, she serves as a shooter/instructor on the USAMU International Rifle Team. In the video below, SSG McNeil talks about her career in competitive shooting, and what she enjoys most about rifle competition — both smallbore and High Power. She notes she enjoys instructing young high school and collegiate shooters (see video below):

SSG Erin McNeil of the USAMU (left) competes in NTI match with a young lady shooter.

Like Father, Like Daughter — Both Great Shooters
Erin noted: “My father was very influential in my shooting career. As a child, I looked up to him. I knew that he had been a world-class shooter in his youth. He asked me a few times if I would be interested in starting the 4H Rifle program. He was excited when I started showing interest in the program. Although he never coached me for fear of crossing the father/daughter relationship with the athlete/coach relationship, but he was always my biggest supporter and even gave assistance when I asked for it. I had a natural talent for shooting and ended up joining my high school’s Army JROTC. I was given a NCAA scholarship to TCU during my senior year. After completing college, I was accepted into the USAMU. My dad [was] the quiet, proud encourager of my shooting career[.]”

Words of Praise for SSG Erin McNeil from Facebook

“Congrats Sergeant McNeil from an old shooter from the 1964 ARADCOM Interservice Rattle Battle matches at Fort Carson Colorado, Ft. Campbell, Ft Sheridan, et cetera. You make me proud of all you folks who carry on the tradition.” — Walter Colbert

“I’ve watched Erin shoot while I was calling the matches from the Tower at the Camp Perry smallbore championships. [She was] never bothered and never ruffled. Just keeps shooting those Xs.” — Ken Kelley

SSG Erin McNeil of the USAMU
Staff Sergeant Erin McNeil, an international rifle shooter with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, Fort Benning, Georgia, has distinguished herself through her many accomplishments. Erin started shooting in 2001 and has numerous shooting accomplishments.

Her awards include the Army Commendation Medal, three Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, two Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, Army Service Ribbon, President’s 100 tab, and Distinguished Excellence in Competition Rifleman’s Badge.

After graduating from Texas Christian University with a B.S. in Mathematics in 2010, Erin enlisted in the Army on February 15, 2011. After she completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Advanced Individual Training as a battle management system operator at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, she was assigned to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, where she has competed in smallbore, service rifle, and long range disciplines, and she also serves as a marksmanship instructor.

SSG McNeil Offers Lessons to Junior Shooters

SSG Erin McNeil, as the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Fort Benning junior shooters club, enjoys sharing her skills and knowledge with the next generation. “You cannot come to one of these without learning something.” The photo shows SSG McNeil during the 2014 Montgomery Bell Academy Rifle Classic in Nashville, Tennessee. At that event, Erin and other top USAMU shooters provided instruction/coaching to High School competitors from all over the Southeast. “The kids who know us, and know of us, come to every clinic and benefit from them. You cannot come to one of these [clinics] without learning something.”

Readers often ask for a good, authoritative resource on doping the wind and reading mirage. Many of our Forum members recommended M.Sgt. Jim Owens’ Wind-Reading Book. With 22 sets of wind charts, this 166-page resource is offered for $14.95 in print format or $12.95 in CD format.

Owens’ Reading the Wind and Coaching Techniques clearly explains how to gauge wind speeds and angles. Owens, a well-known High Power coach and creator of Jarheadtop.com, offers a simple system for ascertaining wind value based on speed and angle. The CD also explains how to read mirage — a vital skill for long-range shooters. In many situations, reading the mirage may be just as important as watching the wind flags. Owens’ $12.95 CD provides wind-reading strategies that can be applied by coaches as well as individual shooters.

As a separate product, Owens offers a Reading the Wind DVD for $29.95.

NOTE: The Wind DVD product is completely different than Owens’ $12.95 CD. The DVD is like an interactive class, while the CD is basically an eBook.

Played straight through, the DVD offers about 75 minutes of instruction. M.Sgt. Owens says “You will learn more in an hour and fifteen minutes than the host learned in fifteen years in the Marine Corps shooting program. This is a wind class you can attend again and again. [It provides] a simple system for judging the speed, direction and value of the wind.” The DVD also covers mirage reading, wind strategies, bullet BC and more.

There are many new products in the 2010 Creedmoor Catalog, such as a new fullbore prone coat, with special features for belly shooters. Creedmoor worked with Dennis Flaherty, U.S. Palma Team Captain, to develop this product. $50.00 from the sale of each coat goes to support the U.S. Palma Team. Also new this year is a “No-Pulse” sling, item NPS-01, $81.95. The 2″-wide sling is made of synthetic material so it won’t stretch or shrink, no matter what the weather. Special “grippy” backing stabilizes the sling on your arm, while a unique dual-strap connection on the cuff dramatically reduces pulse effects. In addition, Creedmoor has a new, deluxe spotting scope mounting head (“Polecat” series) which comes in three versions, so it can fit 5/8″, 3/4″, or 1″ stands.