Sunday Gunday: Guns of the October CMP Western Games

The CMP Western Games “Fall Classic” event — featuring CMP Highpower Rifle and CMP Pistol Matches — takes place next week, October 10-15, 2023 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility near Phoenix, Arizona. This year, the CMP decided to move the Western CMP Games back to its original October timeslot. Although the CMP’s most recent Western Games were held in March of 2023, there will also be a fall Western Games this year, as was the tradition in past years.

The decision to move Western Games back to October was reached after the CMP conducted a survey of competitors. Though the results (155 submissions) indicated spring was favorable (65%) versus fall (34%), the final decision was based on cost to host the event. Spring training for baseball causes inflated expenses for hotels, rental cars, and flights in the earlier months of the year. An October event allows more affordable travel/accommodations for Western Games participants. That should allow more competitors to enjoy the events at Ben Avery.

The Western CMP Games will feature three days of Garand/Springfield/Vintage & Modern Military Matches, a Carbine Match, a Rimfire Sporter Match, a Vintage Sniper Match, and a Rifle Basic Class. The CMP Highpower Rifle Matches include the CMP Team HP Clinic with Live Fire, a 4-Man Team Match, three days of CMP 800 Aggregate Matches and a CMP Service Rifle EIC Match. The Highpower Rifle portion of the Western Fall Classic will include a 2-Man Team Match, two days of CMP 800 Aggregate Matches, a CMP Service Rifle EIC Match and a Mid-Range 3×600 event. For educational purposes, a Rifle & Pistol Marksmanship 101 Classes with introductory EIC Matches are also part of the October lineup. There will also be a GSM New Shooter Clinic, a Highpower Rifle Clinic, and an M1 Maintenance Clinic.

Handgun shooters can compete in 4 days of Pistol Matches including CMP Match Pistol 2700, CMP .22 Rimfire Pistol EIC Match, CMP EIC Service Pistol Match, CMP 1911 As-Issued Pistol Match, Military & Police Service Pistol Match and the NEW CMP Service Revolver EIC Match.

M1 Garand

Line-up of M1 Garands at the CMP Sales tent.

This CMP Video Explains the Process for Ordering an M1 Garand from the CMP:

M1 Carbine

CMP M1 Carbine Matches — Growing in Popularity
The CMP M1 Carbine Match is part of the CMP Games program that already includes Garand, Springfield and Vintage Military Rifle Matches. “As-issued” U. S. Military M1 Carbines are fired over a 45-shot course of fire at 100 yards on either the old military “A” target or the “SR” target. The course includes 5 sighters and 10 shots for record prone slow fire in 15 minutes, a 10-shot rapid fire prone series in 60 seconds, a 10-shot rapid fire sitting series in 60 seconds and 10 shots slow fire standing in 10 minutes.

Modern Service Rifle (AR15 Family)

Vintage Sniper Match Rifles

All competitors firing on the Highpower range will be firing on Kongsberg Electronic Targets (KTS) (see above center). The KTS system registers each shot and relays the location and score value to a monitor beside each shooter.

Rimfire Sporter Rifle

Pistol Competitions

Information on the CMP Western Games

Get more information about the October 2023 CMP Western Games in AZ, with a full schedule and registration info, at https://thecmp.org/cmp-matches/western-cmp-highpower-cmp-games-matches.

Western Games Registration | Match Program | Photo Archive

Travel INFO for Ben Avery Shooting Facility

The Ben Avery Shooting Facility is located 25 miles north of Phoenix, AZ. It is one-half mile west of I-17 on the Carefree Highway (Exit 223). CLICK HERE for Ben Avery Camping/RV Information.

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