Possibility of NRA Nationals Returning to Camp Perry?

[Andy Legg]

At a competitors meeting earlier this week during the NRA Mid-Range Nationals held at Camp Atterbury, IN (for number of years now) Cole McCulloch (NRA Director of Competition) surveyed the membership in attendance regarding the NRA potentially returning to Camp Perry. The feedback he received was overwhelmingly “YES”” for the NRA’s Return home to Camp Perry. He also mentioned that the NRA has reached out to CMP leadership offering an “Olive-Branch” with hopes the two organizations can reconcile. He also discussed data that indicates a continuing decline in Highpower Bullseye competitions with an aging demographic and the NRA’s falling short when trying to attract JR competitors.

i know this is a delicate topic with many moving parts…. But I hope to see the many beautiful and historic trophies returned home.

On another note: AR Tactical participation continues to grow, but there was much Drama and Multiple Protests Filed for out of compliance equipment including, Scope Magnification, Front & Rear Rests and Barrel Lengths. I believe a contributing factor to this debacle was competitors overlooking the very similar but different NRA and CMP AR Tactical Rules. Also, it appeared to me the MD’s attempt was to find a way to FAIRLY allow folks to complete without having to send them home. Ultimately, I believe the path toward with around 30 competitors showing up from around the nation, is to simply enforce the rules as written. ….with Technical Inspections available one day prior to completion.

 

[Mr. Ten-X]

CMP has expanded their "National Matches" to include events/trophies for an across the course Championship. The same for a Long-Range Championship. I do not see where NRA returning to Camp Perry would benefit the CMP.

NRA made a huge miscalculation in their AR Tactical rules by allowing "all" AR platforms and allowing calibers beyond 556/223. Why bend over for 5% of the AR market and put the other 95% at an immediate disadvantage? So much for the brainiacs of the NRA HP Committee that really didn't understand the AR market.

 

[DR_2297]

The simple answer is for the NRA concede defeat, shut down their operation of bullseye and smallbore national marches, indefinitely loan all trophies to CMP to be awarded in the same manner (rifle type / discipline / match format) as they traditionally have been until such time that said matches or CMP ceases to exist. At that point they can just be put in a museum somewhere.

 

[Herzo]

Many of the CMP competitors are just as happy to have the NRA matches at Atterbury.

 

[1813benny]

…..and you are going to trust anything the NRA Competitions group says?

If you need a refresher, talk to any Smallbore competitor.

-mic drop

 

[Mr. Ten-X]

47 competitors firing the NRA National Long-Rancge Championship this year.

Tompkins Aggregate

 

[mike mccormick]

Seems to me that the NRA has pissed off enough of its own members, that they have pretty much ceased to be of much standing. If CMP can do a better job of running matches, the NRA may as well just cede all governance of matches to the CMP.

 

[Hotrod6.5]

Seems to me that the NRA has pissed off enough of its own members, that they have pretty much ceased to be of much standing. If CMP can do a better job of running matches, the NRA may as well just cede all governance of matches to the CMP.

Agreed 100%!
Hopefully, if we see this happen the CMP will run by CMP RULES and not adapt or blend with the NRA rules.

I just re-read the CMP F-Open rules for 2024 and they still understand what OPEN means.
Whereas the new NRA F-Open rules should be viewed as, and called LIMITED or RESTRICTED as they do not encourage innovation.
This is just my personal opinion. I see a dangerous trend in our rules being changed by just a few individuals who were appointed by the NRA. And this happened without input from the folks who shoot and fund the NRA sanctioned events. It appears to me the NRA has become just a rubber stamp for any changes the rules committee decides on. And that’s just one issue I have with the NRA.

 

[c3d4b2]

From my perspective.......

My first two years shootng at Perry I shot the NRA matches. The third and forth year I shot both the CMP and NRA matches. The Forth year I realized there was a continuing pattern where the NRA demonstrated a malevolent attitude toward the shooters.

After the forth year I came to the conclusion I was mainly shooting the matches for fun, and the NRA's national was not fun. So I opted to shoot the CMP matches.

I still ponder if the downfall of the NRA's National has been do to poor leadership, bureaucracy, attitude, or arrogance (or a combination)?

 

[Downhill]

The NRA appears to be floundering at all fronts. It would be beneficial to merge their comps with the CMP. But adopt one set of rules as a standard and have all competitors adhere to them.

 

[USMCDOC]

From my perspective.......

My first two years shootng at Perry I shot the NRA matches. The third and forth year I shot both the CMP and NRA matches. The Forth year I realized there was a continuing pattern where the NRA demonstrated a malevolent attitude toward the shooters.

After the forth year I came to the conclusion I was mainly shooting the matches for fun, and the NRA's national was not fun. So I opted to shoot the CMP matches.

I still ponder if the downfall of the NRA's National has been do to poor leadership, bureaucracy, attitude, or arrogance (or a combination)?

i will have to say.. that this year at Atterbury for the Smallbore phase.. it went a lot smoother then it did in '23 or in '21,.

 

[Jeff Porter]

I have heard that NRA is running the Atterbury matches better each year ( with some personality clashes excluded). It is not that hard to run matches for only 50 competitors though.

Like my college track coach told me, “Porter , you have some of the best running form I have ever seen, but you had better look good going that slow! “

 

[rlporter507]

If the NRA wanted to go back to Camp Perry, I dont know where there matches would fit in, seems to me the CMP has replaced the NRA matches with there own. IMO the CMP is running the "National Matches" ordered by congress, and the NRA is just a national match. The CEO of the CMP mentioned that they are looking hard at electronic targets at the awards ceremony.

 

[Andy Legg]

If the NRA wanted to go back to Camp Perry, I dont know where there matches would fit in, seems to me the CMP has replaced the NRA matches with there own. IMO the CMP is running the "National Matches" ordered by congress, and the NRA is just a national match. The CEO of the CMP mentioned that they are looking hard at electronic targets at the awards ceremony.

I agree, but the NRA still has possession of the very prestigious and historic trophies. Most of which had been competed for and awarded each year at Camp Perry (until 2017).

One of the many interesting examples is the “Port Clinton, Ohio Trophy” which is a beautiful double-handled silver cup that was presented/donated by businessmen in Port Clinton in 1920 for civilian team competitions at Camp Perry. To complete for this trophy now, I believe you have to Compete in the NRA National Matches at Edinburgh, Indiana (Quite a distance from Port Clinton). Clearly the Port Clinton business were very happy to have the NRA National Matches at Camp Perry at that time.

https://competitions.nra.org/media/7631/tro-091-port-clinton.pdf

 

[rlporter507]

I think i remember a cmp video saying that the national matches bring in $30 million to the area. the lady at the motel is very nice and glad to see us every year. thats a huge 5 week shot in the arm for them.