Has anyone tried the NRA light-rifle competition?

[mhdishere]

I saw a while back that the NRA was starting up smallbore light-rifle competitions, basically .22 rifle matches using sporter-type rifles. Has anyone here tried it? Is there a type of rifle/sight that dominates?

I've been out of the shooting sports for a few years now (got married, moved, bought a house, moved again, had to transfer my handguns to my new state, etc etc etc) but I'm ready to start shootin' again. I shot bulleye before, and some "action" shooting like steel plate matches. I've wanted to try my hand at smallbore rifle for a while (never had a rifle of any type), but it always seemed you needed a rifle that looks like a prop in Star Wars. I want to shoot a rifle that would be at home punching paper, shooting cans, or reducing the squirrel population (actually I wouldn't do that, I have oak trees on my property and HATE cleaning up acorns, the more the bushy-tails eat the better). So the light rifle idea appeals to me.

Besides the rifle, sight (iron or scope), ammo and the stuff I have for bullseye (ear and eye protection, spotting scope) what else would I need? Lastly, does anyone know where such competitions would be held in NJ?

Of course any other comments are greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[Jim Watson]

Our club shoots CMP Rimfire Sporter. I think there are some differences from NRA Light Rifle but the idea is the same. So it is something else to look for in range schedules.

CMP RfS has a 7.5 pound weight limit, any repeating action, 3 lb trigger, separate divisions for open sights and peeps/scopes. Right, peep sights shoot with the scopes; which are maximum 6X. Slings are allowed in prone and sitting but not standing. Shooting coats and gloves are not allowed.

The target is based on the ISU free pistol target, scaled from 50 metres to 50 yards and with a white X ring to show up scope crosshairs.

Course of fire is 10 rounds prone slowfire, 10 rounds prone rapid fire (shot in two 5 round strings) at 50 yards; 10 rounds sitting slowfire, 10 rounds sitting rapid fire (shot in two 5 round strings) at 50 yards; 10 rounds standing slowfire, 10 rounds standing rapid fire (shot in two 5 round strings) at 25 yards. Autoloaders get 25 seconds for each 5 round string of rapid fire, manually operated repeaters get 30 (Was 35, but the bolt actions were getting ahead of the autos.) Scores at our little club are running up around 580x600 for the better shots.

The main autoloader is the Ruger 10/22 (Big surprise, huh?) Modifications are allowed but you have to be careful with barrel replacement and trigger jobs so as not to go over 7.5 lb weight or under 3 lb trigger. I have seen all manner of bolt actions, but mostly Anschutz and Marlin; just depends on how much you want to spend. Every once in a while somebody will bring out a pump or lever action but results are not great.

Great fun.