CMP HP matches question

[Darkmind]

Hello fellow THR members, i got a question for ya. I'm in the process of getting an M1A soon and a garand a little further down the road. I was wondering if someone could give me a little rundown of how a HP match goes. Does every club run it differently? Do they use optics? Do you need an optic to be in the match? Do you think it would be best if i just showed up to a HP match to watch and study before i get into one? Any info would help guys. Thanks alot.

 

[Quintin Likely]

Woohoo, a question I can (sorta) answer.

I just shot my first HP match a couple weeks ago, so I can give you a basic rundown more or less of how everything works.

There's a few different courses of fire you might shoot. One's the national match course which is 50 shots, with ten shots slow fire offhand, 10 shots rapid fire sitting from standing, 10 shots rapid fire prone from standing, and a 20 shot slow fire prone. Distances vary depending on how far the range you're going to has to play with. Provided the space, it'll be 200 yards, 300 yards, and 600 yards. There's the 80 shot regional course match, which is 20 shots slow fire offhand, 20 shots sitting rapids, 20 shots prone rapids, and 20 shots slow prone. Plus or minus sighters for both courses (does the National Match course get sighters?)

Since you're talking M1As and Garands, I assume you'll be shooting service rifle. The only optics allowed are binocs or spotting scopes to check your targets downrange and read the wind and mirage. High power is shot with iron sights, be it a match or service rifle.

First time out, I'd call or E-mail the match director a day or two in advance and let 'em know you're new. Then show up about an hour or so before firing begins, so you can go over range procedure and whatnot. All you really need is a safe rifle, ammo, magazines or clips(I took five with me; kept four to use for the rapid fire strings that I reloaded in between relays, and one unloaded for slow fire), and a sling. Take heart in that high power shooters are probably about the nicest shooters you'll ever meet. For the most part, they'll bend over backwards to see that you have a good time and learn something about yourself and your rifle. Depending on how many folks are out there, there might be enough shooters for more than one relay, which means that you'll probably have a spotting scope and a mat you can borrow between relays. Be sure to check with the match director well in advance of the match.

Show up to watch? Good luck, heh. I showed up to watch about a year ago and guys were ready to loan me their rifles to shoot! High power is something you gotta experience rather than watching.

Again, all you really need is a positive attitude, a safe rifle, ammo, magazines or clips, a sling like a cotton Garand web sling or a leather 1907 style sling and yourself. Depending on how many relays there are, you might want to fix up a cooler with some water and lunch. A sweatshirt and a jacket, like a field jacket to soak up pressure from the sling, would help some too. It's hard, it's a lot of work, and it's incredibly fun and addicting.

 

[Steve Smith]

Whew! Lots of things to discuss! The only think I would prefer would be to actually be there to drag you to your first match...

Quintin covered the basics but I'll clean it up a little. To reiterate, the National Match course is the 50 shot, and the Regional Match is the 80. (National Match in this case has nothing to do with THE National Matches). For the 50 shot, bring about 80 rounds, and for the 80 shot bring 110-120 rounds, just in case. You will fire two sighter shots per position so you will fire at least 58 or 88 shots at a match and if you have an alibi (a situation where you are allowed to refire) you will shoot more. A CMP Excellence in Competition match does not have sighters, but they are scarce in comparison to HP matches due to the rules. Concentrate on NRA Highpower matches and participate in CMP EIC matches when they come around.

The course of fire should be the same at every match across the country, as the course is detailed in te rulebook. Once you become hooked you'll want to get a rulebook (free from the NRA).

Bring a safe and reliable rifle, and 5 magazines. I would suggest you load two mags with 2 rounds and two with 8 rounds the night before so you are ready for the rapid fire strings ahead of time. Mark the mags with a 2 or an 8 so you don't screw them up (you must fire the 2 round mag first). To explain: Rapids go like this...after your two sighters, you are told to stand. Then you will hear, "With two or five rounds, LOAD!" That's when you stick your 2 round mag in...BOLT OPEN (unless you use a Garand). Then you will hear the Match Director ask if the firing line is ready, and silence is a sign that you are... Then you'll hear "Ready on the right, ready on the left, all ready on the firing line!" At that point either your targets will come up or you'll be told to commence fire if you don't have target pits. At that point you get into position (be it sitting or prone), close the bolt, and fire your first mag. Quickly and accurately complete a mag change to the 8 round mag, and expend it.

Notes:
You have PLENTY of time for accurate shots. I have made wind changes three times during a rapid string and still cleaned it.
1/3 of Highpower is being organized and having your equipment laid out in an efficient manner. When you "stand" have your mag with 2 rounds in your pocket or your hand, and the mag with 8 rounds within easy reach of your sitting or prone position. That is just ONE example of all the things you can do to prevent frustration. Once you go to your first match you can remember how it goes and mock it up at home. Then you can practice your setup.

No optics. A spotting scope is not only allowed but almost a necessity once you get serious. I'm sure that any of the seasoned shooters will let you borrow thier scope for the first few times. A scope is required to score another shooter's target, but as I said, you will be abl to borrow them. Once you get hooked, be ready to buy a spotting scope of your own because otherwise you have no feedback on your hits if A there are no pits or B you are at the 600 yard line. On a clear day I can see the spotter disk at 600 but I can't see mirage at bullet level as I can with the scope.


Ok, forget this go and watch stuff, you're gonna shoot!

 

[Jon Coppenbarger]

Steve and Quintin has given you some great advice.

A clinic is also a very good way to get started or look up and call the local club match director and see if they have club rifles or if if can help you get started.
A lot of clubs have the equipment for you or wil like Quintin said pair you up with a experienced shooter that can help you out.

I shot a match on sat. and during my non shooting time I assisted a new shooter. We had 3 new shooters on sat. and the club loaned two of them everything including ammo to shoot the ar15s and rifles also and theother one had a new nm rifle and another guy loaned him th other items like matt and spoting scope and we all helped them during the match with a few suggesstions.

Oh Steve mike is finally getting some flat iron pins and will be giving them out for the guys he owes and you should get a fist full when you get back.

Another good thing when you get there is to really watch some off the more experienced shooters (not me either) as on sat. we had the ne shooters watch Mckenna shoot his off hand and when he was done asked them when they went and checked their targets to look at his first befor they did. and he had a so so day with a 198 in off hand so they got to se some decent targets in all of the positions and it let them see and it will let you see what kind of shooting can be done with a little practice.

Shawn cleaned the sitting a 200-13x and also the slow prone with a 200-12x. I had the only other clean of the day with 200 at sitting and dropped 2 in the prone with 198-14x
I am not showing the above scores to sy look at us but to say I also watched Shawn shoot as much as I can as I pickup things from him and with him helping me now and giving me loads to try and things to work on in my positions it shows from the beginner to some one like me thats not on top but has some decent days is that everyone stil learns and gets help.
my score on sat. was a highmaster score but I was still over 10 points behind him.

your scores will go up for many years and you will have fun but as Steve can tell you once you get to 97% its a hard thing to do to get to 98% or 99% or better. One brain fade in off hand kept the 98% away, I have to remember to pull the trigger before I start my follow threw. how do you shoot a 6 at 12 LOL

 

[30Cal]

Some of the local matches have slightly different formats. We don't have pits, so you have to drive down to the targets. We shoot unlimited sighters in 5 min at the beginning and you get no more sighters afterwards.

You'll need a min of 2 mags. I bring 3. Some folks don't like loading mags during a match; I don't really mind. If you've got more, go ahead and bring them because as a newb, you're going to be busy.

A spotting scope is nice, but if the range has pits, you don't really need it. The target will go down and come back up with a big spotter put over the bullet hole. I use mine mostly at 600yds to watch the mirage for wind changes.

Minimum gear:
rifle
2 mags
enough ammo
sweatshirt (unless you don't mind losing the skin on your elbows)

 

[hipwr223]

You WILL need a spotting scope even with matches that have pits. You need to be able to read the score board for rapid fire scoring. You are required as a competitor to score as well as shoot.

More importantly you will need a spotting scope to watch the mirage. For some that is the single largest wind reading tool you can have. Reading the wind off of the range flags is doable, but mirage generally acts the same no matter where you are, where as wind flags can be made of diffeent materials that act differently from range to range. So even if you are a new shooter, get a scope and start learning how to read the wind. I rely on mirage 95% of the time for wind changes. I use the flags primarily for wind direction.