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August 28th, 2020

Kevin Nevius — Smallbore and LR Champion and Gun Builder

On the Shooting Sports USA website, there’s a great profile of Kevin Nevius, one of America’s leading competitive marksmen. Kevin is best known for his smallbore success — Kevin won smallbore National Championships in 2008, 2010, and 2014. Kevin also has also an impressive record in long-range centerfire competition. He won the NRA 2018 Long Range Championship, while in 2005 and 2006 he won the Sierra Trophy at Camp Perry in 1000-yard competition. This story, penned by gunwriter Hap Rocketto, covers Kevin’s career, which has included multiple championships and many records.

“My brother got me into long range varmint hunting and I started building my own guns very early,” Nevius told Dan Holmes in a Pronematch.com interview. “I had a hunting friend who shot indoor smallbore who started me in three position and I was hooked.”

NRA Long Range National Championship Kevin Nevius Lapua 6.5x47 .308 Win Palma Camp Atterbury Indiana David Tubb Bob Gill John Whidden

At the 2018 NRA Long Range Championships, Kevin Nevius went head to head against the nation’s top long-range aces this past week, and emerged on top. Besting the likes of past multi-time Long Range Champions David Tubb and John Whidden, Kevin Nevius shot superbly at Camp Atterbury to win his first NRA National Long Range Championship.Kevin built his own rifles for the match, using Kelbly centerfire actions in a Grunig & Elmiger smallbore stock. Here is Kevin’s first-hand report of his 2018 LR Championship victory.

Smallbore shooting is where I learned to build a good position, and so much of that carries forward to Long Range High Power. It was a huge shock though, the first time I looked at a 44” aiming black through aperture sights at 1000 yards! Smallbore aiming blacks are twice as big, at one tenth the distance — the fact that we can hit something at 1000 yards with that sight picture still amazes me!

» READ Kevin Nevius Profile in Shooting Sports USA

Here are highlights from Hap Rocketto’s Profile of Kevin Nevius:

Shooting Sports USAChampion shooter Kevin Nevius grew up in a household that did not allow firearms, an unlikely beginning for one of the United States’ premier prone rifleman and gunsmiths. Once out on his own he fell in with his brother who enjoyed long-range varmint hunting. His natural bent for things mechanical (he is a professional structural engineer) soon had him tinkering with rifles, which eventually led him to building his own.

Everything fell into line for him in smallbore during the 2008 season. After shooting a series of training matches in which he was most successful, he arrived at Camp Perry at the peak of performance and won his first National Smallbore Rifle Conventional Prone Championship. Kevin came back strong in 2010, winning the inaugural individual National Smallbore Rifle Metric Prone Championship, as well as the team title at Bristol, IN. [Kevin then won the Smallbore Conventional Prone Championship in 2014 with a practically perfect score of 4799-390X (LINK).]

Along the way, Nevius has won some impressive national records. In conventional competition he co-holds the 1200-shot metallic sight aggregate record of 1200-102X. He was just one shot short of perfection in the 480 aggregate, where he holds the civilian record of 4799-412X, just one point behind, and 11 Xs ahead of, Joe Hein’s 4800-401X open record.

Kevin Nevius hopes to build a smallbore rig capable of 3/8-MOA at 100 yards.
Kevin Nevius smallbore gunsmith

Building the Ultimate Rimfire Prone Rifle
Kevin is not just a great trigger-puller. He also smiths his own rifles. His current goal as a gunsmith is to build a rimfire rifle that will shoot 3/8″ groups at 100 yards. That’s a big challenge — 3/8-MOA represents very good accuracy for a centerfire rifle with handloaded ammo. But if any rimfire smith can build a rifle that will shoot that well at 100, it’s probably Kevin.

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August 12th, 2020

Young Soldiers Shoot Smallbore with Dreams of Olympic Glory

USAMU smallbore olympic competition ASSA championships Smallbore

Even with the COVID-19 Pandemic, it is great to see talented young shooters attending competitions — honing their skills with the goal of competing in the next Olympic Games. While few of us have the dedication to become competitive 3-position shooters, soldiers from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) are putting in the hours in the hopes of representing the USA in the World Cup and Olympics.

USAMU smallbore olympic competition ASSA championships SmallboreThe USAMU reports: “With the Smallbore Olympic Trials (Part II) still yet to happen, going to competitions now is even more critical for Olympic hopefuls to prepare. So with added safety precautions, the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit International Rifle Team recently competed at the American Smallbore Shooting Association (ASSA) National Championships in Bristol, Indiana.”

After all the .22 LR rounds were sent downrange, USAMU soldiers took up the top four spots in both the Prone and Three-Position individual championships. And the USAMU won a Gold and Silver in the Team Championships. SPC Tim Sherry seized the ASSA National Prone Champion title with the score of 6393-515X. SGT Patrick Sunderman took Silver just one X behind — 6393-514X.

In the Prone Team Championships (shown below), USAMU Soldiers swept the podium. SGT Sunderman and SPC Jared Desrosiers combined for 1600-116X to win the Gold and top honors.

USAMU smallbore olympic competition ASSA championships Smallbore

USAMU Shooters Host Training Clinics
Between all the matches, USAMU Soldiers also conducted two separate junior athlete clinics to help young shooters advance their marksmanship skills. We commend the USAMU team members for helping to bring up the next generation of position shooters.

USAMU smallbore
USAMU shooters on the firing line at a past championship in Bristol, Indiana.

In the Three-Position Rifle Championship, USAMU soldiers again claimed the top four spots. SPC Sagen Maddalena won the ASSA National Three-Position Rifle Champion title with a 2324-102X. First Lt. Sarah Beard took Silver with a 2320-101X.

USAMU smallbore olympic competition ASSA championships Smallbore

The Hardware — High-Tech Rigs with Fully Adjustable Stocks

USAMU Smallbore match rifle Anschutz
Here is a modern Anschutz .22 LR Smallbore 3P Match Rifle.

If you want to get started in 3-Position smallbore shooting, read our Introduction to 3-P Rifle Competition by U.S. Olympian Matt Emmons. For starters, Click image below to launch a BIG full-screen PDF file.

Matt Emmons Smallbore position rifle

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August 5th, 2020

Home Range Appreciation Series — Filling the Nat’l Matches Void

CMP Home Range Appreciation shooting match high power smallbore pistol 2020

In July and August we should be talking about the CMP Games at Camp Perry (Ohio) and the National Matches at Camp Atterbury (Indiana). Instead, all these events have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Thankfully, the CMP is organizing a local match series that can provide some competitive fun in summer 2020.

To fill the void of the unfortunate withdrawal of the 2020 National Matches from the annual schedule, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) have prepared a solution that will allow competitors to compete with one another during the summer months at their local ranges.

The CMP has created special series of matches for Summer 2020 — the “Home Range Appreciation Series”, a collection of High Power rifle, pistol, smallbore rifle, air rifle and pistol competitions, shot at local facilities, and open to both adult and junior athletes. Scores from all the CMP-sanction home range matches will be complied together, and all participants will receive a commemorative t-shirt and coin. In addition, sponsors will provide awards such as gift certificates, memorabilia, and ammunition.

CLICK HERE for Program General INFO, Rules, Event List »

Home Range Shooting Matches are Underway
Since early June, scores have been pouring in weekly for the CMP’s (CMP) Home Range Appreciation Series of events. Introduced to supplement the cancelled 2020 National Matches in Ohio and Indiana, clubs from Texas, Mississippi, Wyoming, New York and several other states have conducted an assortment of rifle, pistol, smallbore and air rifle competitions at their local ranges.

CMP Home Range Appreciation shooting match high power smallbore pistol 2020

One Home Range event was held at Hornell Sportsman’s Club in New York. “Thanks, CMP, for opening the Home Series,” said the Club’s CMP match coordinator, Joe Menichino. “We are all disappointed that the Perry matches were cancelled, and this series gives us a chance to shoot and compete.”

GENERAL INFORMATION
Each local match will be sanctioned by a CMP Affiliated club. All matches MUST be fired by September 8 and results received by September 14, 2020. All results will be final on October 1, 2020. A list of matches will be posted on the CMP website. Participants may fire in more than one event of the same discipline, but only the scores of the first event will be recorded, with the exception of the White Oak 1600 Aggregate which is two 800 Aggregate matches. This event maybe fired at different locations for competitors to complete their two 800 Aggregate matches.

SAFETY and HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
The CMP reminds clubs to follow all state and local health guidelines and health advisories. Recommended range health practices include: limiting/spacing the number of participants who congregate for safety briefings, spacing out firing points, leaving empty firing points between shooters, ensuring participants wear masks, washing hands frequently, providing disinfectant wipes, and continuously cleaning common surfaces such as shooting benches and equipment.

  • List of Rifle and Pistol Ranges Hosting Home Range Series
  • List of Air Rifle and Smallbore Ranges Hosting Home Range Series
  • Home Range Club Sanction Application Form
  • Home Range Series Match Results
  • For questions on Rifle, Pistol or Games Matches, contact Christina Roguski at croguski [at] thecmp.org or (419) 635-2141, ext. 714. For questions about Smallbore Matches, contact Brad Donoho at bdonoho [at] thecmp.org or (419) 635-2141, ext. 730. For Air Rifle match questions, contact Katie Harrington at kharrington [at] thecmp.org or (419) 635-2141, ext. 731.

    Permalink Competition, News, Shooting Skills No Comments »
    March 2nd, 2020

    Registration for 2020 CMP National Matches Opens

    Camp Perry CMP National Matches 2020

    Registration for the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) 2020 National Trophy Pistol and Rifle Matches opened March 1, 2020. The annual event, held at the Camp Perry National Guard Training Base since 1907, features traditional pistol and rifle marksmanship events and a lineup of CMP’s own competitions. Activities this year run from 7/6/2020 to 8/8/2020. Adult and junior competitors of all skill levels are invited to participate during this year’s National events. All events are open to the public.

    CLICK HERE for 2020 CMP National Matches Registration »

    For registration and more information on the National Trophy Pistol and Rifle Matches, including a complete schedule of events, visit the CMP National Matches Web page. NOTE: You must create a CMP Log-In account to register for 2020 National CMP Pistol Matches & Pistol Games Matches.

    CMP 2020 National Matches at Camp Perry Dates:
    CMP National Matches First Shot Ceremony — July 7, 2020
    CMP National Matches Pistol Championships — July 7-12, 2020
    CMP Smallbore Championships — July 14-22, 2020
    CMP High Power Rifle Championships — July 21-31, 2020
    CMP National Games Events — July 30 – August 3, 2020
    CMP Long Range Matches Camp Perry — August 4-8, 2020

    national matches cmp nra 2020 calendar

    CLICK HERE for Full-Size 2020 Nat’l Match Calendar PDF »

    Camp Perry CMP National Matches 2020

    CMP National Matches Program 2020 at Camp Perry
    The CMP will open the National Matches at Camp Perry with its First Shot Ceremony and pistol matches on Tuesday, July 7. CMP pistol events will run through Sunday, July 12. CMP Smallbore rifle check-in and practice will commence on Tuesday, July 14 and matches will run for a week with championships and prone awards on Wednesday, July 22. CMP’s Rimfire Sporter Match and CMP Junior Smallbore camp will also be completed during that period.

    CMP Cup High Power Rifle matches begin Tuesday, July 21 and will conclude with a CMP Cup awards ceremony on July 23. CMP Rifle Clinics will begin July 24 and conclude July 26. CMP’s National Trophy Rifle Matches will begin July 27 – July 31, with CMP National Games Events July 30 – August 3. CMP Long Range matches open on Tuesday, August 4 and conclude with the CMP Palma Rifle match and Long Range awards on Saturday, August 8.

    New in 2020 — High-Tech Smallbore Scoring, New Long-Range and Pistol Events
    During the smallbore events, scoring will utilize Shooters Technology, a mobile application that transmits target images via cell phone to the Orion scoring system and allows scores to be compiled before competitors even return from hanging targets down range.

    Returning to the CMP schedule is a series of Long Range events for teams and individuals. Long range matches will be fired at 1,000 yards and are open to match rifles, service rifles or Palma rifles.

    The pistol program has been expanded greatly. A CMP Revolver Match has been added. And for .22 Pistol, Centerfire Pistol, and .45 Pistol divisions, the CMP has added 900 Aggregate and Pistol Team events to the National Matches Pistol schedule.

    CMP National Matches at Camp Perry | NRA National Matches at Camp Atterbury

    NRA CMP matches map indiana camp perry atterbury

    Camp Perry is located six miles west of Port Clinton. Housing is available on base on a first-come, first-serve basis, and a campground is also located onsite. Other area accommodations are only a short drive away and only minutes to Lake Erie.

    Permalink Competition, News, Shooting Skills No Comments »
    November 24th, 2019

    Sunday GunDay: Teen Queen — 18-Year-Old Rifle Ace Katie Ezell

    Katie Ezell ohio state junior olympics smallbore air rifle shooting competition
    Katie poses in high school graduation cap and gown with her Walther LG400 Alutec Air Rifle.

    Hard work and tenacity do pay off. Smallbore/Air Rifle ace Katie Ezell is proof.

    Story based on article by Serena Juchnowski, CMP Feature Writer
    Hailing from Denver, North Carolina, Katie Ezell, 18, is a rising talent. Katie graduated Summa Cum Laude from High School in 2019 and now attends Ohio State University, where she competes on the OSU Rifle Team. At the age of 10, Katie’s parents introduced her to marksmanship, wanting their daughter to have hands-on instruction in firearm safety. Thus began a love affair that has only evolved since then.

    “The first time I ever went shooting, I knew this was something that I would want to continue to do.”

    One of Katie’s match rifles is a Walther LG400 Alutec Competition Air Rifle:
    Katie Ezell ohio state junior olympics smallbore air rifle shooting competition

    Since she was so young and unable to join the teenage pistol team at her club, Katie applied to the women’s team, which had no specific age restrictions, and proceeded to compete with those far older and more experienced. Katie accredits much of her competitive drive and how she handles match pressure to pursuing the competition venture at such a young age.

    After pistol came skeet, in which Katie traveled to national and international competitions. Thinking about the future, Katie soon realized that a shooting scholarship would allow her to continue in the shooting sports while funding her education. Precision rifle appeared to be the best avenue for this, leading Ezell to move into rimfire sporter for four months before making the jump into precision air rifle.

    Katie Ezell ohio state junior olympics smallbore air rifle shooting competition

    Ezell cites her greatest accomplishment as “getting accepted to be on The Ohio State [University’s] rifle team after shooting for a year and a half”. While Ezell had been shooting for eight years, she had only been training and competing in precision rifle for 18 months when she was accepted onto the team, where she made her dream a reality.

    Katie Ezell ohio state junior olympics smallbore air rifle shooting competition

    After joining the Ohio State team, Katie’s first competition was the Junior Olympics, which added some extra pressure to the already prestigious event. This was not the only special part of the occasion. Katie’s father, a deployed military member, was in town, and this was the first time he could watch her compete in person, since his deployment makes attending matches difficult.

    Katie Ezell ohio state junior olympics smallbore air rifle shooting competition
    Katie Ezell at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center in 2018 for Winter Air Gun.

    Katie notes that after she set the nervousness aside, she found herself excited and shot a personal best in smallbore. She had hoped to shoot better with her air rifle, but she knows that being part of a college team will help her to improve her skills.

    Katie Ezell ohio state junior olympics smallbore air rifle shooting competition
    Katie excels at Smallbore. Here she aims a .22 LR Walther rifle at the 2018 Nationals at Fort Benning, GA. She shot a personal best at the Junior Olympics.

    With Coaching, Katie Has Achieved Personal Bests in Both Ari Rifle and Smallbore
    Katie is nearing the end of her first semester at Ohio State and has surpassed her previous bests in Smallbore and Air Rifle. Her coach has changed some of Katie’s positions, and she is improving.

    “Marksmanship has taught me a lot about self-control. If the shot does not look right, then I reject it and try again. I have learned that failure is okay….” Katie recognizes that failure can inspire one to do better and to learn. She advises competitors “to not be afraid to fail”. Katie started into precision shooting at a much later age than most, especially those who end up with a college shooting career. Though it took time, she learned to appreciate the experience and to not bury herself in expectations.

    Katie Ezell ohio state junior olympics smallbore air rifle shooting competition

    Walther LG400-E Expert with Electronic Trigger
    The E-trigger ensures wear-free operation and exact trigger settings for many shots. The LED-indicator and the installed rechargeable battery ensure readiness to fire as well as easy and quick loading.

    · Trigger pull weight can be reduced to 15 grams
    · Wear-free operation and exact trigger settings over many years
    · Choice between two-stage mode and direct trigger mode
    · Realistic dry-firing conditions (dry-firing trigger)
    · Rechargeable battery via mini-USB
    · LED indicators for system readiness and battery charge level
    · Automatic e-trigger turnoff when not in use

    Credit The First Shot CMP Newsletter, story by Serena Juchnowski, CMP Feature Writer.

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    June 27th, 2019

    Smallbore Centennial — The 100th Nat’l Smallbore Championships

    2019 nra smallbore national championships indiana we-ke-de

    “The National Smallbore Outdoor Rifle Championships, born in the aftermath of World War I, celebrates its Centennial this year. Since 1919, smallbore competitors have gathered 94 times at seven locations to contest for the champion’s laurels.” (Hap Rocketto for Shooting Sports USA). 2019 marks the 100-year anniversary of the NRA Smallbore Championships — the Centennial of this historic rifle competition.

    Over the past 100 years many things have changed including the course of fire. In the 1920s, “The shooting program would have modern-day competitors scratching their heads. There was an à la carte menu of matches, which were shot at 50 and 100 yards and with re-entry matches a regular feature. There was a good deal of long-range shooting at 150, 175 and 200 yards. On occasion there was a position match but, by and large, the courses-of-fire were all prone.” READ History of Smallbore Championships.

    » READ Complete NRA Smallbore Championship 2019 Program

    2019 nra smallbore national championships indiana we-ke-deThe Championships are limited to 200 competitors per Championship (Metric 3-P, Conventional 3-P and Conventional Prone). Competitors MUST have a current NRA Classification Card. Competitors will receive squadding after registration and payment of entry fee; a confirmation will be sent confirming registration and squadding. Shooters who wish to shoot near each other must register together.

    Situated just 10 miles away from Elkhart, Indiana, the Wa-Ke’-De Rifle Range is located on Highway 120 just a mile and a half east of Bristol. Nestled among pine trees, the range boasts 100 covered firing points laid out on an asphalt firing line.

    2019 nra smallbore national championships indiana we-ke-de

    NRA Smallbore Championships Wa ke de Wa-Ke’-De bristol indiana

    smallbore rimfire rifle championship Indiana wa-ke-de
    The 2019 Smallbore Rifle Championship will be held at the Wa-Ke’-De Range in Bristol, Indiana.

    » CLICK HERE for National Smallbore Rifle Championships INFO

    Recent Move from Camp Perry to Indiana
    After many years at Camp Perry, Ohio, the Smallbore Championships event was relocated to Indiana to accommodate the World Long Range Shooting Championships at Perry. The move was made in 2014 to the St. Joseph Valley Rifle and Pistol Association’s Wa-Ke’-De Range, Bristol, Indiana. There will be yet another move in 2020 — the NRA smallbore championship will be held in Camp Atterbury Indiana. So, in 2020 the Smallbore Championship will once again be held alongside the High Power Rifle and Pistol National Championships, with three events at Camp Atterbury.

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    June 7th, 2019

    Get Ready for 2019 CMP National Matches at Camp Perry

    Camp Perry 2018 M1A Garand Calendar National Matches

    Competing at the Camp Perry National Matches is a “bucket list” item for every serious marksman. The National Matches were first held in 1903, moved to Camp Perry, Ohio, in 1907 and continue to take place every summer at Camp Perry. The National Matches have become a huge, national shooting sports festival with well over 6,000 annual participants.

    Here’s the information you need. Below is the 2019 National Matches Calendar for Camp Perry. We’ve also got the complete 2019 National Matches Program for you. Plus you’ll find links to REGISTER ONLINE.


    2019 Nat’l Matches Calendar | 2019 Nat’l Matches PROGRAM

    Click 2019 Calendar for full-screen version.
    Camp Perry National Matches Calendar 2018 NRA CMP

    Year 2019 Camp Perry NM Competition activities begin with NRA/CMP pistol matches on July 8-14, 2019. The CMP Junior Rifle Camp, USAMU SAFS, and Smallbore matches run the next week, with the hugely popular Rimfire Sporter Match on July 21. High Power Rifle events kick off on July 23 with the 4-Man Team Match and rifle events run continuously for the next two and a half weeks.

    Here are some key dates for RIFLE events:

    July 27 – CMP/USAMU Rifle SAFS
    July 29 – President’s 100 Rifle Match
    July 30 – National Trophy Individual Rifle Match
    July 31 – National Junior Team Match
    August 1 – National Trophy Team Match, National Carbine Match
    August 2 – National Trophy Infantry Team Match (“Rattle Battle”)
    August 3 – M1 Garand Match, Springfield/Vintage Bolt Rifle Match
    August 4 – M1A Match, Springfield/Vintage Bolt Rifle Match
    August 5 – CMP Vintage Sniper Rifle Match
    August 5-8 – CMP Long Range Individual Matches
    August 9 – Camp Perry Palma Match

    PISTOL Registration | SMALLBORE Registration | RIMFIRE Sporter Registration | HIGH POWER Registration

    Camp Perry National Matches Calendar 2018 NRA CMP

    Camp Perry CMP Small Arms Firing School
    At the Small Arms Firing Schools, rifles and ammo are supplied to trainees.

    Camp Perry summer 2018 CMP National Matches
    The John C. Garand match is a Camp Perry classic. Note the signature Garand clip in the air.

    Camp Perry 2019 rimfire sporter Calendar National Matches
    The Rimfire Sporter Match attracts hundreds of competitors of all age levels.

    Vintage Sniper Team Match
    The Vintage Sniper Rifle match is a very popular event with two-person teams.

    Permalink Competition, News, Shooting Skills 1 Comment »
    November 13th, 2018

    CZ 455 .22 LR Varmint Precision Trainer in Manners Stock

    CZ  455 rimfire precision PRS trainer .22 LR smallbore video TFBTV manners stock

    Rimfire cross-training allows PRS competitors to build their skill sets without breaking the bank (or burning out nice custom barrels). One great .22 LR option for cross-training is offered by CZ (Česká Zbrojovka), the Czech arms-maker. The TFBTV video below spotlights the CZ 455 Varmint Precision Trainer (VPT), a smooth-running .22 LR bolt action. This factory rifle was designed specifically as a training tool for precision long-range competition. It boasts a Manners composite stock and 20.5 or 24-inch heavy barrel. The 0.866″-diameter tube is threaded and suppressor-ready. The model 455 VPT is mag-fed and comes with a crisp trigger that adjusts to two pounds. Street price is around $830. That’s pricey for a rimfire — but you’re getting a premium Manners stock that would cost $534 by itself.

    Field Testing the CZ 455 Varmint Precision Trainer

    .22 LR Rimfire from 50 to 300 Yards
    CZ  455 rimfire precision PRS trainer .22 LR smallbore video TFBTV manners stockThe CZ 455 VPT proved accurate, recording half-inch groups at 50 yards with SK ammo: “[we] shot CCI standard, Federal match, and SK match through the rifle. It liked the SK ammo the best.” One goal of this test was to see how a .22 LR could perform beyond typical rimfire ranges, so reviewer Joel Wise (Precision Rifle Network) tested this rifle all the way out to 300 yards. Groups were about 1″ at 100 yards, but opened up considerably at 200 and 300. Joel concluded 300 yards was a practical max. We know that some tactical rimfire matches set targets out that far, but we think 200 yards might be a better practical limit for matches run with smallbore rifles. It’s not just the problem of running out of elevation in your scope. At 300 yards the effect of the wind is huge.

    CZ  455 rimfire precision PRS trainer .22 LR smallbore video TFBTV manners stock

    The CZ 455 Varmint Precision Trainer (VPT) features a mag-fed CZ 455 action, with .866″-diameter heavy barrel, in a rigid, high-tech Manners Composite stock. Feeding was very reliable.

    CZ 455 Varmint Precision Trainer

    The 455 VPT offers the same look and feel of a full-size tactical rifle. This 455 uses a Manners MCS-T4 stock assuring a rock solid platform for the 455 barreled action. The outer shell of the MCS-T4 is made with carbon fiber and fiber glass in multiple layers. The stocks can be custom-ordered with a heavy fill to match your current rifle weight to truly duplicate its feel.

    Manners VPT Stock Available for Other Rimfire Platforms
    Manners Composite Stocks offers versions of the CZ 455 Varmint Precision Trainer stock design that can be used with other barreled actions: “The 455 VPT stock is based on our MCS-T4 design. We offer this, fully inletted with pillars, for a variety of rimfire actions: Sako Quad, Savage Mark II, CZ 452, CZ 453, along with the 455.”

    CZ 455 Varmint Precision Trainer

    Inletting is complete, so this will be a drop-in solution if you already own one of the listed rimfire rifles. Tom Manners notes: “With this stock, some guys will bed the rear area of their action, but that’s not necessary — you can pretty much bolt ‘em in and go”.

    Permalink Competition, Gear Review, Tactical 1 Comment »
    October 16th, 2018

    Personalized Precision — The Modern Smallbore Match Rifle

    Anschutz 1913 rifle smallbore

    Report based on Lars Dalseide story in NRAblog

    Anschutz smallbore position rifleHigh-Tech Rimfire Rigs
    If you watched the smallbore position and prone shooters at the 2016 Brazil Olympic Games, you couldn’t help but notice the exotic rifles competitors were shooting. There were wood stocks, metal stocks, factory-built rifles and customized specials. Why are there are so many different design features and stock types? To answer this question, the NRAblog’s editors called on Jessie McClain of the NRA Competitive Shooting Division.

    “The customized rifles, like the Anschütz you showed me, can make a real difference in a shooter’s performance,” explained McClain. “I went from a decent shooter to making the varsity shooting team my freshman year because of the rifle.” As Jessie explained, one new feature out there is the adjustable stock, which she called the Porsche of the shooting world. Fully adjustable from the butt plate to the check piece to the hand stop and risers and bolt knobs, this component is fully customizable to the athlete … which can be a huge advantage. “Every person is different … a customizable rifle fits anyone. A rifle team can purchase four of these and field a shooting team for years.”

    Anschutz 1913 rifle smallbore

    The Modern Anschütz Position Rifle
    Smallbore match rifle makers are using modern materials in response to the need for greater adjustability (and enhanced accuracy). One of the popular new designs is the Anschütz model 1913 position rifle with a “1918 ALU Precise” brushed aluminum stock. This looks like it has been crafted in an aircraft plant.

    Anschutz 1913 rifle smallbore

    Story by Lars Dalseide, courtesy the NRA Blog.
    Permalink Competition, Tech Tip 2 Comments »
    September 12th, 2018

    Smallbore F-Class National Championship — New Discipline

    Camp Wa-Ke-De indiana 2018 smallbore F-Class Jim Murphy
    Anschutz .22 LR rifle set up for F-Class competition. Photo courtesy Sportschieben Blog.

    Here’s a new discipline we think should become very popular — Smallbore F-Class with .22 LR rimfire rifles. Rest-supported prone rimfire matches have been held around the world for quite some time, but only a few years ago was the discipline officially codified in the NRA Smallbore Rulebook. And the first-ever Smallbore F-Class National Championship was held this past July in conjunction with the Smallbore Nationals at Camp Wa-Ke’-De in Bristol, Indiana. The Nationals involved multiple days of prone shooting at 50 meters and 100 yards.*

    Jim Murphy, a respected centerfire shooter and coach, became America’s very first Smallbore F-Class National Champion, shooting an impressive 2374-146X score. Fourteen points behind, but with the same X-Count, was runner-up David Pessall (2360-146X). Jess Huehn finished third with 2358-137X.

    Camp Wa-Ke-De indiana 2018 smallbore F-Class Jim Murphy
    National Championship photo from Shooting Sports USA.

    Competitors could either shoot off a bipod F-TR style, or use a front rest. In this photo from the inaugural NRA National Championship you can see a shooter with SEB Coaxial Rest at top, with a competitor using a low-profile bipod at bottom. Note the extended handle used to adjust bipod elevation. This is not a coaxial joystick, but rather a long handle attached to the mariner wheel.

    For more match results read Hap Rocketto’s Shooting Sports USA Match Report.

    Smallbore F-Class — The Future Looks Bright
    With the high cost of centerfire ammunition, and the limited number of 1000-yard (or even 600-yard) ranges, we can envision that Rimfire F-Class will become a popular event at ranges across the country. Clubs don’t even need benches — just a 100-yard target bay and flat ground for the shooters. You can start with an inexpensive rimfire rig and Harris bipod. Then work up from there. Here is a custom rimfire F-TR style rig that belongs to F-Class ace and past centerfire F-TR National Champion James Crofts.

    Camp Wa-Ke-De indiana 2018 smallbore F-Class Jim Murphy

    Smallbore F-Class Course of Fire
    The Smallbore F-Class Nationals was completed on paper targets at 50 yards and 100 yards. According to Shooting Sports USA: “The tournament ran during the any sight and metric phases of the 2018 NRA National Smallbore Rifle Championships, featuring a daily course of fire which mirrored the sling shooters, 40 shots at 50 meters on the A-50 target, a Metric Dewar, followed by 40 shots at 100 yards on the A-33 target. Although the international targets were shot throughout, the first two days were titled ‘conventional’ and the last two ‘metric’.”

    The specifics of the match such as rifle requirements, rests, and sights may be found in the Provisional Smallbore Rifle F-Class Rules (Section 23), found on page 65 of the current NRA Smallbore Rifle rulebook. Any rules not covered in Section 23 will [reference] the normal rules of Sections 1 through 22.

    * All ‘short range’ F-Class was shot at 50 meters on the A-50, the 50 meter International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) target. All ‘long range’ stages were shot at 100 yards using the NRA A-33 target, the ISSF 300-meter target reduced to 100 yards.

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