Many / Any Service Rifle Shooters here ?

[Bart B.]

It's fairly easy and inexpensive to set up a service rifle that is fully capable of shooting 100 - 10x on every string until the person try's to shoot it offhand, or sitting rapid, prone rapid or slow prone from 600 with only a sling for support in sitting and prone only....

Then there's the ballistically inferior little projectiles that require you to pay attention to and correct for the wind or pay in points... Especially in 300 rapid strings and 600 slow prone

I disagree if you're referring to 30 caliber service rifles and their ammo. And all service rifles and the ballistically inferior little projectiles you mention.

Most service rifle matches allow some of the same ballistic superior bullets that win benchrest matches.

 

[M14AMU]

I 'legged out' long before the rat rifle came into being shooting the M1!

 

[GSS]

I disagree if you're referring to 30 caliber service rifles and their ammo. And all service rifles and the ballistically inferior little projectiles you mention.

Most service rifle matches allow some of the same ballistic superior bullets that win benchrest matches.

Hi Bart,

Nope, I wasn't referring to 30 caliber service rifles.... LOL
Those went out with the dinosaurs so they rarely to never even come to mind in modern day service rifle conversations of current Service Rifle shooters.

There are "special" matches for those antiques now

I was referring to all the hot new modern projectiles being fired thru modern match rifles....

George

Edited to add:
Another benefit of Service Rifle,
In addition to not being an Equipment race where you really can't buy points or wins, it isn't a reloading competition or ballistics minutia competition either.
Developing marksmanship skills is the only way to climb the classification ladders or earn the Distinguished Rifleman designation.

 

[Bart B.]

Nope, I wasn't referring to 30 caliber service rifles.
Those went out with the dinosaurs so they rarely to never even come to mind in modern day service rifle conversations of current Service Rifle shooters.

There are "special" matches for those antiques now

The Army has used AR 10 rifles using 308 ammo since 2012 when the NRA classified them as service rifles because M1 and M1A rifles out scored 22 caliber AR platforms as they didn't have any 30 caliber ones

I was referring to all the hot new modern projectiles being fired thru modern match rifles....

Nothing prevents them being used in service rifles

You still actively shooting Service Rifle ?

No, not since 1990. Gave my Garand to oldest son after he Distinguished on the Navy team

 

[GSS]

I identify as a knuckle dragging turd shooter....

J.R. the 2nd... great company... Cheers

 

[Bart B.]

Another benefit of Service Rifle,
In addition to not being an Equipment race where you really can't buy points or wins, it isn't a reloading competition or ballistics minutia competition either. Developing marksmanship skills is the only way to climb the classification ladders or earn the Distinguished Rifleman designation.

I may reply after I quit laughing.

Are you aware that some Distinguished rifle and pistol shooters never fired a shot in an EIC Leg match?

Current CMP rule on rifle ammo....

4.3 Ammunition
Rifle competitors may use any safe ammunition, except that match sponsors may elect to issue ammunition to all competitors. If ammunition is issued, all competitors must use the issued ammunition.

So it is a reloading competition and ballistics minutia competition if you want to win.

 

[GSS]

I may reply after I quit laughing.

Are you aware that some Distinguished rifle and pistol shooters never fired a shot in an EIC Leg match?

Nope, must have been before my time.

Can you point any of them out or estimate how many on the list in the thread in the link below?

It goes back a long ways...
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/official-list-of-distinguished-shooters-link.3970320/

 

[Bart B.]

Nope, must have been before my time.

Can you point any of them out or estimate how many on the list in the thread in the link below

No, but in was introduced to one back in the late 60's. Forget his name. He was a coach in a DCM EIC Team match

For a while, EIC leg matches also included team matches at the Nationals. Those teams in the top 10% got points for each shooting member as well as team coach and captain. That ended around 1959 as so many complaints were made about the rules allowing those not shooting to get leg points and Distinguished badges.

Some large military commands eligible to have leg matches would detail many regular folks who were not competitive shooters to shoot in leg matches so more regular competitors would get points.

I'm on that list: USN, 1971.

 

[GSS]

No, but in was introduced to one back in the late 60's. Forget his name. He was a coach in a DCM EIC Team match

For a while, EIC leg matches also included team matches at the Nationals. Those teams in the top 10% got points for each shooting member as well as team coach and captain. That ended around 1959 as so many complaints were made about the rules allowing those not shooting to get leg points and Distinguished badges.

Some large military commands eligible to have leg matches would detail many regular folks who were not competitive shooters to shoot in leg matches so more regular competitors would get points.

I'm on that list: USN, 1971.

Interesting, That would be cool info for the Distinguished Thread I linked to.

Here's the link again.
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/official-list-of-distinguished-shooters-link.3970320/

 

[Bart B.]

The USMC distinguished badges have, to me, the most interesting history:

http://www.wwmcmillan.info/usmc_DistBadges.html

 

[GSS]

From the responses it looks like there are more active Service Rifle Shooters here than I thought.
We are definitely the minority here but that is not a bad thing. Probably typical across the country for the reasons stated earlier on in this thread.

It looks like this thread may have even got another person or two interested in trying it.

I'm glad to see that...
We can always use more competitive shooters. In all disciplines.

 

[Fynn]

Lots of great resources, several folks who I recognize from the NMF. I have so many questions that pop up,I’ll search before asking, don’t want to clutter up forum with separate threads on assorted aspects of SR.
Good stuff here!

 

[hpshooter]

"From the responses it looks like there are more active Service Rifle Shooters here than I thought."

Far from active. been a few years since I shot it. Still have my gear and the coat still fits. Plan on shooting a couple of the club matches (200yd. reduced targets) this summer.

By far, the best way to develop practical marksmanship skills that will help in the other rifle disciplines, IMHO.

 

[GSS]

"From the responses it looks like there are more active Service Rifle Shooters here than I thought."

Far from active. been a few years since I shot it. Still have my gear and the coat still fits. Plan on shooting a couple of the club matches (200yd. reduced targets) this summer.

By far, the best way to develop practical marksmanship skills that will help in the other rifle disciplines, IMHO.

With low power affordable scopes being legal now there are some people that gave it up with age ( even in the 40's ) cuz they couldn't see the post are coming back to XTC Service Rifle and doing well.

Prone and F class will always be there when we get to old or out of shape to shoot XTC..

 

[Bart B.]

One of my mementoes from service rifle days:


Another from the 1971 Nationals when M16's were first allowed in DCM matches; the USN Mickey Mouse Team. We decided to get those shirts from Disney and their woman I called said that was a great idea so she sent them to us free shipping at Quantico Marine Corps Base where the Interservice Rifle Matches were being shot. The Army and USMC teams applauded our brave venture.

I fired the first shot in the 600 yard stage of the Camp Perry National's EIC leg match. Made an estimated come up from 300 then estimated the fast changing wind dope and put it on. A huge crowd behind was watching those little rifles performing at 600. Fired that shot. Target stayed up, then finally sank slowly into the pits. A few seconds later it came up. Spotter was shallow in the 10 ring at 8. Crowd behind me shouted "Yea Mickey Mouse." Finished the match first with a 476-?X. Not great but I and the other teammate got sight dope for the USN team to use on our Redfield International rear sights in the next day's team matches.

 

[Bamban]

Do deviate a little from the topic. In 97 Bill Wylde built a space gun for me. Took it the State Long Range Championship the same year. The match director initially would not allow me to shoot for fear the little 223 slug would be a safety hazard in the pit. I convinced him to allow me conditionally as long as the rounds are supersonic as observed in the pit. I had access to a 1000 yard range on a ranch, I know the 80 VLDs at 3050 were good to go. I had to shoot against Palma guns, and Magnums though.

At the awards ceremony for the 1000 yards iron sight, he prefixed the narrative - "You won't believe this, I was not even going to let the winner shoot.... due to the caliber he is shooting......"

The wood that says WINNER is still in my reloading room.

The little cartridge can.

 

[GSS]

View attachment 1086161
I fired the first shot in the 600 yard stage of the Camp Perry National's EIC leg match. Made an estimated come up from 300 then estimated the fast changing wind dope and put it on. A huge crowd behind was watching those little rifles performing at 600. Fired that shot. Target stayed up, then finally sank slowly into the pits. A few seconds later it came up. Spotter was shallow in the 10 ring at 8. Crowd behind me shouted "Yea Mickey Mouse." Finished the match first with a 476-?X. Not great but I and the other teammate got sight dope for the USN team to use on our Redfield International rear sights in the next day's team matches.

Cool Pics Bart, Thanks for sharing the history / memories

Which one are you in the team photo?

 

[Bart B.]

Which one are you in the team photo?

I'm not in that picture. The heat and humidity was bad for me that year at the Nationals, my scores were not too good. I volunteered to pull targets in the DCM team match for those shooting M16's. Our best at the time shot 7.62 Garands in the team matches.

 

[Killroy]

One of my mementoes from service rifle days:
View attachment 1086159

Another from the 1971 Nationals when M16's were first allowed in DCM matches; the USN Mickey Mouse Team. We decided to get those shirts from Disney and their woman I called said that was a great idea so she sent them to us free shipping at Quantico Marine Corps Base where the Interservice Rifle Matches were being shot. The Army and USMC teams applauded our brave venture.
View attachment 1086161
I fired the first shot in the 600 yard stage of the Camp Perry National's EIC leg match. Made an estimated come up from 300 then estimated the fast changing wind dope and put it on. A huge crowd behind was watching those little rifles performing at 600. Fired that shot. Target stayed up, then finally sank slowly into the pits. A few seconds later it came up. Spotter was shallow in the 10 ring at 8. Crowd behind me shouted "Yea Mickey Mouse." Finished the match first with a 476-?X. Not great but I and the other teammate got sight dope for the USN team to use on our Redfield International rear sights in the next day's team matches.

An old thread but has me interested. Is your 1971 navy team the reason we call the m16 the mouse gun?

 

[Derick549]

I am also a new SR XTC competitor. I began last year. But I am very familiar with it all. My dad has been shooting XTC for as long as I can remember, back to the 80's. He shoots both SR and MR. I really enjoy the challenge and being apart of the equation for good shot execution.