What is service rifle competition?
- Thread starter Sniper338
- Start date
This is a good idea of the Premier Service Rifle Match each year.
Hundreds of local 100 - 600 yard clubs around the country and beyond host Service Rifle Matches to help Service Rifle Shooters prepare for the match the video is about.
Reduced courses like 100 and 200 yard ranges are an excellent way to get started because they are not affected from the wind as much as on full course ranges.
This helps people better determine and correct the cause of shots not landing in the 10 ring.
The targets used at reduced course matches have much smaller scoring rings so you still have to have good positions and good shot execution to shoot 10's and X's.
The attraction for many of us is that it is a shooter / Marksmanship skills game, not an equipment race where those that spent the most on equipment always win the matches.
Last edited:
watercam
Silver $$ Contributor
Service Rifle uses any current or past rifles used in U.S. military service. They shoot a course of fire of anywhere from 50 to 80 rounds consisting of:
2 sighters and 10 or 20 rounds standing unsupported except for a coat, rounds are single fed in 12 or 22 minutes @ 200yds. (or reduced 100) slow fire.
2 sighters and 10 -20 rounds with one magazine change (2 rds. in one mag, 8 in the other) sitting with sling and coat in 60 seconds per 10 round string @ 200 yds. or reduced 100 rapid fire.
2 sighters and 10-20 rounds with on magazine change with coat and sling prone at 300 yds. or reduced to 100 in 70 seconds per 10 round string rapid fire.
2 sighters and 20 rounds single loaded with coat and sling at 600 yds. or reduced 100 in 22 minutes slow fire.
Rifle must conform to current or past military configuration. Currently an optic of not more than 4.5X is legal as is a length adjustable stock, fixed cheek rest, and free-floating forend. No other support other than a coat and sling are allowed (it is more of a practical shooting competition).
AR-15s rule the roost but M1As, Garands, Springfields can all be shot using the same course of fire. Garands and Springfields would be using enblocs or stripper clips to recharge the weapons for rapid fire.
You can shoot any other type of rifle of caliber less than .35 that is magazine fed with at least 5 rounds and either iron or scope sights in the Match Rifle category shooting the same course of fire. No muzzle brakes or suppressors are allowed in any NRA or CMP courses of fire. Flash suppressors are allowed for those rifles that had them when issued but you do not have to have one to shoot.
It is great fun and very challenging. If my spine was in one piece I would still be shooting Across the Course.
For more info look up NRA Highpower Rules online.
2 sighters and 10 or 20 rounds standing unsupported except for a coat, rounds are single fed in 12 or 22 minutes @ 200yds. (or reduced 100) slow fire.
2 sighters and 10 -20 rounds with one magazine change (2 rds. in one mag, 8 in the other) sitting with sling and coat in 60 seconds per 10 round string @ 200 yds. or reduced 100 rapid fire.
2 sighters and 10-20 rounds with on magazine change with coat and sling prone at 300 yds. or reduced to 100 in 70 seconds per 10 round string rapid fire.
2 sighters and 20 rounds single loaded with coat and sling at 600 yds. or reduced 100 in 22 minutes slow fire.
Rifle must conform to current or past military configuration. Currently an optic of not more than 4.5X is legal as is a length adjustable stock, fixed cheek rest, and free-floating forend. No other support other than a coat and sling are allowed (it is more of a practical shooting competition).
AR-15s rule the roost but M1As, Garands, Springfields can all be shot using the same course of fire. Garands and Springfields would be using enblocs or stripper clips to recharge the weapons for rapid fire.
You can shoot any other type of rifle of caliber less than .35 that is magazine fed with at least 5 rounds and either iron or scope sights in the Match Rifle category shooting the same course of fire. No muzzle brakes or suppressors are allowed in any NRA or CMP courses of fire. Flash suppressors are allowed for those rifles that had them when issued but you do not have to have one to shoot.
It is great fun and very challenging. If my spine was in one piece I would still be shooting Across the Course.
For more info look up NRA Highpower Rules online.
VA_XTC_Shooter
Silver $$ Contributor
Looks boring as hell, but actually fun as hell and addicting. Not to mention fellow competitors are salt of the earth.
What state are you in?
What state are you in?
Springfield / 1903 is not currently listed as a Service Rifle option by either NRA or CMP.
CMP Games is the place to shoot Springfields and may make more sense for Garands.
It is competition shooting for the "real" shooters, the tough guys. unlike us F Class guys who like our warm croissants and hot coffee served to us on the line as we shoot by lovely girls. you know, a gentleman's sport.
And here I always thought that bullseye pistol shooters were partaking in the gentleman's sport.
Probably all a matter of perspective. I know some shotgun shooters that turn their nose up to the thought of shooting paper or steel targets...
As for the original post, service rifle is great and I highly recommend giving it a try. As mentioned, it isn't so much of a gear race as some competitions. You can have success with a reasonable output of cash for gear. My biggest complaint is and has always been shooting in that bloody coat when it is hot and the humidity is through the roof - it's absolutely miserable. Maybe that's just because I've always been sissified when it comes to the humidity.
Doug Beach
Silver $$ Contributor
Great fun with your (excessive) clothes on!
Shynloco
You can lead a horse to water, but ........
I had the pleasure of attending an NRA sanctioned competition a few years ago, to watch, not to shoot since I don't own a Service Rifle. I went with a friend who has three M1 rifles he uses to compete around the country. mostly on the west side of the country. And a couple of Marines from Camp Pendleton showed up shooting their personal AR 15's. The course they shot was the 100, 200 and 600 yd competitions. I volunteered to work the target pits to help change targets and mark them for scoring. Frankly, knowing all these guys were using open sights, I was amazed how well they grouped, especially at 600 yds. Hell I'm glad I keep shoot descent groups with a scope on my BR rifles, never mind a Service Rifle at 600 yds. But fun was had by all and those Marines shared some tips with me if I ever decided to get into their discipline. Lots of fun to be had and thank God for all the men and women who protects us all in our great nation. And to all the Marines, present or former, SEMPER FI. And that's from a Grunt!
Alex
Alex
watercam
Silver $$ Contributor
Did any of us come close to answering your question?
Sound like something you will be trying out anytime soon?
Any other Questions ?
Did any of us come close to answering your question?
Sound like something you will be trying out anytime soon?
Any other Questions ?
Yep questions answered. Sounds interesting. Good excuse for another gun. I dont have a gun that fits the rules currently. My AR isnt a military round, and is too dang heavy for shooting standing up or sitting.
Whats the size of the X ring for the 100 yard target?
DR_2297
Silver $$ Contributor
You will shoot 3 different targets in a HP match @ 100 yards.
All aiming blacks are roughly 6 moa in diameter.
Shots are scored at the next higher value if they are tangent to or break the scoring ring.
Standing / Sitting = SR1.
X, 10 & 9 rings are black (6.35”)
10 Ring = 3.35”
X Ring = 1.35”
Prone Rapid = SR21
X, 10, 9 & 8 rings are black (6.12”)
10 Ring = 2.12”
X Ring = 0.79”
Prone Slow = MR31
X, 10, 9, 8 & 7 rings are black (5.75”)
10 Ring = 1.75”
X Ring = 0.75”
The x ring of the sr-1 target that is shot standing and sitting is about an inch and a third in diameter.
Service rifle is supposed to be equal equipment wise across the board for all competitors. This is not exactly true
The external look of the rifles must be largely within a framework but a shooter can have a high end barrel and a good trigger but they must be a 4.5# pull weight or more. A shooter can tweak their load to fit their rifle. Ultimately though, to be successful a shooter must learn the fundamentals of positional shooting. Therein lies the rub, it's tough. When you can modify your body position to shoot a non adjustable rifle, when you get another rifle it's easy.
Bisonballistics.com has printable reduced 100 yard targets. Print a few out and see the challenge of the game. A realislze there a people that can shoot 80 shots and not drop a point.
Service rifle is supposed to be equal equipment wise across the board for all competitors. This is not exactly true
The external look of the rifles must be largely within a framework but a shooter can have a high end barrel and a good trigger but they must be a 4.5# pull weight or more. A shooter can tweak their load to fit their rifle. Ultimately though, to be successful a shooter must learn the fundamentals of positional shooting. Therein lies the rub, it's tough. When you can modify your body position to shoot a non adjustable rifle, when you get another rifle it's easy.
Bisonballistics.com has printable reduced 100 yard targets. Print a few out and see the challenge of the game. A realislze there a people that can shoot 80 shots and not drop a point.
DR_2297
Silver $$ Contributor
There is maybe a handful of active competitors capable of cleaning the 80 shot course. Accomplishing it on the other hand is something very rarely witnessed. Same goes for a 50 shot course.
That's very true but its possible. The important thing to remember is you only have to beat one person at a match to be successful.
From my inner pedant, I agree with you, however, in that it has NEVER been done in well north of 100 years of shooting the same COF (or very nearly so), it seems unlikely that a clean will ever be fired. This is unfortunately made all the poignantly true due to the falling numbers in the sport.
Lolz! You sure about that, suh?
My Service guns are between 16-17 pounds loaded up. A good full-house A2 is like it's own cute little cinder block.
There's a saying here that goes "You take care of the shooter, and let the coat take care of the score."...and that can be extended to include "...let the heavy rifle take care of the offhand...". You don't hold the rifle in place, it holds YOU in place. Doing the opposite will beat you up so bad that by shot 13 on a 22-round stage, your heart will be doing 150. Not good.
-Nate
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