NRA Marksmanship Program 2020 - Lotsa Questions

[Craig_AR]

In 2020 NRA changed the NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program (NRA/MQP).
(Note that they no longer call it the Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Program.)
I am trying to figure it out, but the guide leaves me with more questions than ever.

Here is the new Courses of Fire page. Clicking on any link in the list opens the PDF of the complete 62 page book, at the page for that specified level. You can download the pdf from any of those pages.

Pistol Qualification questions:
First page says, "Targets - Paper with 4 1⁄2" circle drawn on it. (Hint, use an old CD to draw your circle). D-1 or D-2 Targets."
Apparently this page refers to competing the NRA Basic Pistol, which uses the smaller circles for three levels of accomplishment, but that is not clear. The next page dices into the ratings table, from Pro-Marksman to Distinguished Expert, without any discussion of using those levels to build on top of the Basic course.

Pro-Marksman (2-handed benchrest) rating says target is, "Paper plates or paper disk (9- inch diameter)" and for Phase 2 adds, " All shots must be within the circle." But under the Ratings table are three illustrations, one showing "Inside 1/2" margin on plate," indicating an 8" diameter scoring area; the next showing, "Inside 1 1/2" margin on the plate," indicating a 6" diameter scoring area; and the third showing a shot touching the line between the 8-pt ring and the outer 5-pt area on the D-1/D-2 target.
Question 1: Is the qualifying shot area for Pro-Marksman the 8" area on the 9" paper plate (figure 1), or the 6" inner area on the 9" plate (figure 2), or any place in the 5-pt or higher area of the D-1/2?
Question 2: For Phase 1 the instructions for number of targets are clear, "5 shots each at 10 targets." However, moving to Phase 2 it says, "10 shots strong side and 10 shots weak side." How many targets for Phase 2, one with 10 shots string side and one with 10 shots weak side? Or two targets of 5 shots each for a total of 4 targets?

Marksman (2-handed standing) says targets can be 9" plate or D-2 at 15 feet, or D-1 at 30 feet, and adds, "All shots have to be 1" from the edge of the target." That indicates a 7" diameter qualifying space on the 9" plate, or any of the three illustrations.
Question 3: Does the same 1" margin apply to both D-1 and D-2 if used instead of the 9" plate?
The instructions say, "10 shots strong side and 10 shots weak side with 6 minutes to shoot each pair. ... Repeat 4 times."
Question 4: Does this mean 20 shots (10 each side) on each of 5 total targets?
Question 5: If using a revolver, is 6 minutes a reasonable time limit given a total of three reloads will be needed during the timed event?
The instructions finish with, "Repeat on D-1 or D-2 target."
Question 6: Does this mean a single session of 10/10 on a D-1 or D-2, or the full 100 rounds on five D-n targets?

For Expert the position is Standing, Ready One, and for Distinguished Expert the position is Standing Ready.
Question 7: Is the distinction between Ready and Ready One that one of them you have the gun gripped, extended, and raised to sights on the target, and the other "low ready," (NRA Guide, Basics of Pistol Shooting, page 111) with the gun gripped and extended but depressed for full view of the target area instead of sights in view? If so, which is which?

Thanks for any clarification here. All relevant YouTube videos on the MQP program are for the pre-2020 version, so are not really helpful here.

Don't be surprised if I return with similar confusion from the rifle and air gun portions of the new MQP.

Craig

 

[JohnKSa]

That's pretty sloppy, isn't it.

For the Pro-Marksman, it's at 5 yards, shot from a rested position with no time limit. If you want to be safe, pick the most restrictive possible interpretation and use that. For whatever it's worth, here's my take:

1. There's no mention of using the D1/D2 targets for the PM rating so it seems reasonable to assume that they should not be used. This is reinforced by the fact that anytime they do mean for the D1/D2 to be used, they explicitly state what range each target is to be used with since the D1 and D2 are not the same size.
2. The target is a 9" paper plate and all bullets need to be within the 9" diameter circle--none outside or touching the circle. There's no mention of an inner scoring circle as on some of the other ratings.

For your second question, it seems reasonable to assume that since they don't say to repeat the string, it should not be repeated.

Marksman.
It doesn't say the targets can be a 9" plate OR a D1/D2. The 9" circle is used for the first half of the course of fire which is then repeated on your choice of a D1 or D2 at the appropriate range. I don't quite follow how they want you to score the D1/D2--I don't see where they explain that.

My take is 160 shots. 80 on the 9" plate (10s+10w) times 4, then 80 on your choice of D1/D2 at the appropriate range.

The time limit seems clear and is certainly meant to include reload time, IMO as 20 rounds is going to involve reloading for most handguns. I don't see it as being particularly restrictive although it is more restrictive the lower the capacity of the handgun employed.

I don't know the difference between 'Ready' and 'Ready One'--there's no explanation in that material. Is there any additional material that defines the two positions?