Tell me about the John C. Garand match

[jefnvk]

OK, I have an M1, now I want to start playing around in competitions. Never having shot in any competition before, I am not really sure where to start. I have been told that the Garand matches are good for beginners, as they stay in closer ranges, and the course of fire isn't as difficult. Also, the equipment is pretty much restricted to an as-issued US battle rifle up to the Garand.

Is the above correct? I can't really seem to find any information on the match, I am just patching together bits and pieces of information.

Is this a good way to start? Are there better ways?

What is a standard course of fire?

Also, are there any places in the mid-Michigan (LP) that do these competitions?

 

[ReadyontheRight]

jefnvk - You can start out by looking here:

www.odcmp.com

Here is a calendar of matches by state:

http://www.odcmp.com/calendar.asp

The CMP website lists clubs by State. They also sponsor the National Matches at Camp Perry in August. You may be able to find Garand matches in Michigan or Wisconsin.

I wholeheartedly recommend getting into shooting the Garand and attending Camp Perry. The course of fire at Perry for the last few years has been: 5 sighters, 10 shots prone slow-fire, 10 shots standing to prone rapid-fire and 10 shots standing slow-fire. The match is designed for semi-beginners. You can also shoot in the 1903 Springfield match the day before. There is also an M16 match they added last year the day before that that is a similar course of fire.

Look for clubs in your area. The Garand matches at Camp Perry have re-generated interest in Garand matches.

Here are some websites I found Google-ing "Garand match Michigan":

http://www.michrpa.com/highpower.htm
http://www.glssa.org/garand.htm
http://www.ccrifleclub.org/id4_page_pics_2004.htm

 

[Trebor]

Where in Mid-Michigan are you?

The Capitol City Rifle Club in Williamston (outside Lansing) is a CMP affiliated club. We have a 200 yard rifle range with full pits. We have 8 CMP clinics left on the schedule for this year. These are similiar to a Garand match, but the course of fire is somewhat different. At one of our clinics you'll shoot 50 rounds for score at 200 yards. 10 rounds off hand slow fire, 10 rounds prone rapid, 10 rounds sitting rapid and 20 rounds prone slow fire. There are also 6 sighters allowed at the start. These clinics are a great intro to high power competition. We have loaner Garands available at .30-'06 ammo can be purchased on site for use in the clinic. (The match fee is slightly cheaper if you bring your own ammo).

We also hold the "ID4" military rifle shoot in July. We allow any military rifle up to the Garand in this shoot. The CoF is either the same as a Garand Match or at least is very similiar.

Our website is www.ccrifleclub.org

The CMP website lists the rules for John C Garand matches. That's at www.odcmp.com

 

[ACP230]

Trebor:
Does the ammo at your matches come in en-bloc clips?
I piled up a little stash of them shooting NRA Highpower matches back in the late 1980s.
If so, that would be one reason to use the club ammo in the match.

 

[Trebor]

No, the ammo no longer comes in en-bloc clips. It used to, but the club ran out of clipped ammo two or three years ago. Now it comes in 20 round cartons. The club will issue you two clips, but you have to return them when the match is over.

Fortunately for me, I saved all my clips from when the ammo did come on clips so I have at least 50 or 60 loose clips now. I also have 280 rounds of clipped M2 Ball still in the box, so I'm set.

I still tend to use the club ammo whenever I can afford it just to avoid dipping into my personal stash. Since the majority of my Garand shooting is done at the clinics and mil surp rifle matches, I've actually fired very little of my own ammo over the last few years.

 

[Bobby Lee]

If you wish to learn to shoot the most important thing you need to learn is the proper use of a sling.

You must also forget that a shooting bench exists.

After you learn to use a sling you will no longer need a bench.

Once you no longer need a bench then you can be called a rifleman.