By Ashley Brugnone, CMP Writer
2018 National Trophy Pistol and Rifle Matches Smallbore Event : New to the National Match lineup this year are smallbore events.
USA – -(Ammoland.com)- Registration for the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) 2018 National Trophy Pistol and Rifle Matches opened March 1, 2018. The annual event, held at the Camp Perry National Guard Training Base since 1907, has undergone significant changes for the July 2018 season – presenting new matches never before offered by the CMP and reclaiming traditional matches missing from the Camp Perry soil in recent years.
After months of development, the CMP has proudly brought smallbore back to the ranges of Camp Perry. Making a debut on the CMP’s smallbore schedule is a 3×40 with iron sights and an any sights match, a 3×20 team match and prone events. Scoring will be administered in collaboration with Shooters Technology, using a mobile application that will transmit target images via cell phone to the Orion scoring system and allows scores to be compiled before competitors even return from hanging targets down range.
A six-day CMP National Matches Junior Camp, Smallbore & Air Rifle, will also take place 17-22 July at Camp Perry. Camp is open to junior athletes who shoot both three-position smallbore and standing or international precision air rifle. Participants must be between the ages of 12 to 20 and must currently be shooting in three-position smallbore competition matches and international air rifle.
Also new to the CMP schedule is a three-day series of long range events for teams and individuals. Long range matches will be fired at 1,000 yards and are open to match rifles, service rifles or Palma rifles.
Introduced at last year’s Nationals, the CMP will again host its own Cup Matches, which include a 4-man team event and a 2000 Point Aggregate event which will feature a cash prize based on the average 2-day score. The CMP will also continue to offer an assortment of bonus competitions for vintage and modern military rifles, sprinkled into the mix – each named to honor the memories of important figures in marksmanship history, as well as to commemorate the spirit of past and present National Matches. These matches include the Oliver Hazard Perry Match and the Roosevelt Commemorative Match.
Other events featured at the National Matches will include the John C. Garand, President’s Rifle, Hearst Doubles, Vintage Sniper, as well as a collection of prestigious pistol events. Adult and junior competitors, the well-seasoned and novice individuals, are all invited to participate during this year’s National events.
On top of competitive opportunities, a Small Arms Firing School (SAFS) will also be held for rifle and pistol enthusiasts, where participants will be instructed by some of the top military shooters in the country on firearm safety and competition technique. The SAFS courses have been a staple in the National Matches at Camp Perry since 1918.
Many other clinics and learning opportunities, taught by CMP staff members and qualified professionals, will also
