Since they begun with the first John C. Garand Match in 1998, the CMP Games have enjoyed steady increases in participation and
popularity. Now shooting clubs all over the country hold their own CMP sanctioned John C. Garand Matches and Springfield Matches to enjoy this exciting, nostalgic and fun side of competition marksmanship. In 2004, over 1400 shooters competed in the John C. Garand Match held during the National Rifle and Pistol Matches…and more would have shot if there had been enough light in the day for
the CMP to schedule another relay!
It was clear that many more shooters wanted to fire in these matches. But the time
constraints and relay limits that are encountered during the National Matches do
not allow for expansion there. So, just as the United States expanded in the 1800s, so has the CMP expanded. The CMP is heading west to offer
shooters there their first Western CMP Games, a two day match offering shooters chances to fire in
John C. Garand Match, the Springfield Match or Vintage Military Bolt Rifle Match.
The Western CMP Games will be held on May 14-15 with registration on May 13 at Camp Pendleton, California. The Western CMP Games are possible in part
because of the help of the host club, The Santa Margarita Gun Club of Oceanside, California and the United States Marine Corps who are
permitting the use of their range. These matches will follow the standard course of fire for John C. Garand Matches and will be limited to five relays each day with fifty shooters in each
relay (250 firers per day).
But shooting isn’t the only item on the agenda. On hand during the match will be
sales staff from CMP South in Anniston, Alabama along with a selection of government surplus M1 Garand and M1903 rifles. These rifles will be on display on Saturday and Sunday afternoons after firing concludes (approximately 1:00 PM). Anyone attending the competition can inspect these rifles and select one or more to purchase from the CMP. Rifles selected by customers will be tagged. Customers must then complete the required paperwork and make payment arrangements. Rifles that are selected and purchased will be returned to Anniston and shipped directly to the customers from there. No rifles will be released to customers at the match. Individuals interested in purchasing rifles who are not firing in the match are welcome to come to Wilcox Range to inspect the rifles.
Shooters who are interested in participating in the inaugural Western CMP Games should go to http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/
matchInfo.cgi?matchID=785
to register and view the match program. Interested shooters MUST pre-register using the links on that page to be eligible to fire. NO WALK ON ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED. Interested
persons who wish to come to look at the rifles and perhaps select one or more for
purchase must also pre-register as a non-firing participant. This will
facilitate their access into Camp Pendleton.
Hopefully, there will be more gold found in the California hills…this time in the form of CMP gold medals! |
