Totally new to "Garand competition" Need advice

[Frandy]

I've never shot in competition, but want to attend a Garand clinic/competition next spring in Butner NC (sponsored by NC Rifle/Pistol and CMP). The invitation brochure says to bring your own stuff, jacket, ground cover/tarp/whatever, food, stool and so on.

Besides the obvious things like my ear and eye protectors, I don't have a clue what to bring regarding the other items such as the mat/tarp for prone shooting. Can someone point me to resources, or at least list those kinds of things that will help me get the right stuff without breaking the bank?

Thanks for helping this newbie.

Frandy

 

[30Cal]

Wear a sweatshirt to keep from getting rug burns on your elbows.

Ty

 

[ocabj]

You need a sling. If you don't have a cotton web sling or a leather sling, your shooting in prone is going to suffer severely. Not only that, but a sling is required according to CMP rules (sling must be attached to front and rear swivels in offhand).

The bare minimum you can get away with is your:

rifle
ammo
sling

You'll want a mat or at least a tarp to keep clean when in prone. A shooting mat is good for padding.

Definitely have a sweatshirt. I prefer thick sweatshirts with hoods.

I'd recommend getting a glove of some sort to protect your offhand from your sling and sling swivel. It doesn't even have to be a special shooting glove. You can use a work glove that you get from any hardware / home improvement store.

A shooting jacket is great to have, but they do get expensive. If you plan on shooting more JCG and highpower competitions, you may want to invest in a jacket. $300 will get you a Creedmoor hardback.

 

[BobCat]

You will want to borrow or buy a shooter's mat, spotting scope, rifleman's coat, and a clipboard and pen.

The mat can be a real shooting mat from e.g. Champion's Choice http://champchoice.com/shop.php?code=STOMAT (or another shooting store), or it can be an old piece of carpet or a camping mat - just something to lie on.

The spotting scope can be a pair of cheap binoculars, or nothing. The Garand Match is usually shot at 200 yards so you can get by with no scope at all, but you may need to ask the person next to you to read you your scores off the chalk board, in the rapid fire stages. In slow fire you can see the scoring disc without a scope.

The coat can be a sweatshirt or anything like that, to keep your elbows from getting too abused in prone. A "real" rifleman's coat gives some support in standing, but you can shoot the match without it, no problem.

The clipboad and pen are to write your scores on the card.

Whatever you do, do NOT let lack of equipment, or anything else, deter you from going! You will have an absolute ball, whether you take up Highpower or not. I can not over-emphasize this: you will have a great time, you will meet nice people who will help you out and answer your questions, and you will shoot better than you might expect. The Garand Match is one of the better things to do in Life.

Have fun!

Other people, who are better shooters than I am, will probably answer your questions more fully. Just go to the Match and have fun!

Regards,
Andrew

PS Our club had a Garand Match last Sunday, and I'm still grinning about it. We only have 3 or 4 per year and it is always a hoot.

 

[ocabj]

You won't need a spotting scope. Your scorer can spot for you while you are shooting.

 

[Blackfork]

All good advice.

I'd re-contact the match director and ask him to get you in contact with shooters who might loan you any and all of the equipment. Or share with you. Usually folks are good about taking care of new shooters.

Don't BUY anything. You don't want to have to buy it twice.

Sling is a must. You can splurge on a web sling. Or borrow.

Try not to shoot the first relay. Watch one time and ask a lot of questions.

I shot my Garand in the Texas State Rifle Association Garand Championship last weekend at Temple. We had lots of new folks. We assigned folks to walk them through the process, go down and help them score and talk rifle shooting with them. I couldn't get my two guys to use their slings or my mat. Don't be like that. My guys were capable, had killed a lot of deer and shot all their lives, but they had never SEEN competition and didn't know anything about rifle shooting when it came right down to it. They jerked the triggers like they were setting a bass hook. They didn't know to focus on the front sight blade. They didn't cheek-weld and got punched in the face and lips by their own knuckle and fingertips. They were shocked when they watched me shoot and then walked down to look at the target. You could see smoke coming out from under the hood as their shooting conciousness shifted without using the clutch.

Good guys. Hope they will be back. i gently talked a little trigger technique as we walked back to the berm. Get help. Ask questions. Accept coaching. We've all been there.

 

[SoCalShooter]

Items I take with me to match.

Shooting map
Stool
Ammo
Rifle
shooting jacket
sweatshirt
elbo pad
shooting glove for right hand and padded shooting glove for left hand
eye protection
hat
ear protection
spotting scope

For the weapon I have a leather sling and I have a two round clip (modified 8 rounder) and a modified single round clip so that the bolt will stay back without ejecting the sled.

Also pay attention when they give the safety debriefing...otherwise your going to find out what a Garand thumb is.

 

[ocabj]

If you want to talk about checklists, here's mine:

Firearm
Ammunition (assuming not issued)
Sling(s) (leather primary attached to rifle, leather and web backups)
Clips / Magazines
Spotting scope
Scope stand
Shooting coat
Sweatshirt
Shooting mat
Shooting glove
Sight Smoker
Slow fire ammunition holder
Hat
Bandana
Towel
Sunglasses
Eyeglasses
Hearing protection (plugs)
Hearing protection (muffs)
Zip lock bags
Wet / handy wipes
Leatherman tool
Range cart
Clipboard and notepad
Pen and pencil

Lunch / cooler bag
Gatorade
Water (bottle or canteen)
MRE
Crackers
Sinus / allergy medication

Cleaning rod(s)
Cleaning cradle
Patches
Bore brushes
Bore guides
Cleaning solvent (BBS)
Cleaning rags

Cleaning gear stays in the vehicle. The rest of it follows me to the firing line.

 

[tgs]

Check Out ORSA (orsa.nxs.net)

You'll see shortly that Garand comp and other HP shooting venues share lotsof parallels.

The OakRidge Sportman's Association in Oak Ridge Tn has a great set-up. They also put on one of the best beginner clinics that cant be matched for getting you started. Maybe not be until around March again. Check the website. Its sounds like your in the right neck of the woods. BUT....

Dont misunderstand.... when Blackfork said just get there and have a good time. Get there and have a good time Ditto:ont buy anything. Bring your ammo, mags, hat,sunglasses things that you always have nearby when your target shooting, ear-plugs (muffs dont get it for me I havent found muffs that let you weld to the stock)and a canvas sling works very good. Ask someone to show you how to rig it. If you got binoculars bring them (I get everything in a sturdy backpack that has a handle and wheels) a light aluminum folding stool with a little catch all underneath you'll find comes in handy and it will hang on your backpack. I still use a piece of heavy canvas I cut years ago to sit and lay on. It rolls my rifle and bungies to my backpack.

Some events will make available "empty chamber" indicators usually like $1.00 and will require you have one.
Its a yellow marker that you put in your chamber when not ready too shoot, if you dont have something (and probably dont) just cut a piece of dowel and staple a yellow piece of tape to it just in case.

Might checkout www.highpowerforum.com and www.AR15.com. They both have lots of good reading. BUT it isnt the same as getting there. Its a whole new world but ya gotta go and be early and youll find all the help you need,

100yds lead to 200yd then 300yds and then 600yds then the 1000yd and there are no good 12 step programs. All it takes is just once. Remember though no cure

 

[Frandy]

Excellent guys!!! Thanks so much for all these informative responses!