Civilian Marksmanship Program Announces Plans to Build Multi-Phase Outdoor Marksmanship Facility in Talladega County, Alabama

ANNISTON, ALABAMA – The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is pleased to announce it has completed the purchase of approximately 500 acres of wooded property in Talladega County, Alabama, for the purpose of building a new CMP Outdoor Marksmanship Facility. The multi-phase, multi-year project will assist the CMP in carrying out its mission to promote firearm safety and marksmanship skills to U.S. citizens, with an emphasis on youth, near its CMP South facilities.

The CMP has purchased approximately 500 acres of wooded property just south of the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama for the purpose of building a new CMP Outdoor Marksmanship Facility. This aerial view is an early planning concept of how the facility may be developed over the next several years.

“With the support of friends of the Civilian Marksmanship Program, we envision a facility that will provide our guests a safe, instructive environment where CMP will conduct training, competitions and related events near our Anniston home, less than 30 minutes away,” said CMP Chief Operating Officer, Orest Michaels.

A pair of firing points has been constructed in a patch of forest for testing and evaluation purposes. It is anticipated that upon completion, the range will contain 100 firing points.

The facility, projected to be completed in five phases, will be located three miles from the Talladega Superspeedway, and will be accessible from the Eastaboga (#173) or Talladega (#168) Interstate 20 exits. The facility property is situated near Turners Mill Road, south of the speedway and two miles north of downtown Talladega. For now the CMP has cleared land for access roads and constructed a pair of 200-yard highpower rifle firing points for testing and evaluation purposes.

CMP’s new outdoor shooting range is projected to be completed in five phases. The property is situated near Turners Mill Road, south of the speedway and two miles north of downtown Talladega.

Currently the CMP owns and operates two of its own state-of-the art indoor airgun marksmanship centers in Anniston and at the Ohio National Guard training center at Camp Perry near Port Clinton, Ohio, home of the CMP’s programs headquarters and the annual National Matches. Both centers are used for firearm safety training and competitions by thousands of young shooters each year. Both centers recently hosted the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Airgun in preparation for the 2012 London Games.

Access roads and turning areas have been cut into the Talladega grounds to establish entry and exit from the range for construction equipment and site preparation.

The following is a general description of the multi-year project phases, which will be supported by a CMP capital campaign. As with all projections of its magnitude, the project phases may vary and are be subject to unforeseen development and funding constraints:

• Phase I – to establish a 50-point rifle range with firing lines at 100 and 200 yards, complete with fully-operational target pits with manually-operated cantilever style target carriers and a state of the art electronic target system.
• Phase II – to expand the range by adding 300 and 600 yard firing lines, utilizing Phase I features and adding permanent restroom facilities
• Phase III – to construct a 100 yard smallbore range, a 50 yard pistol range, a 50 foot pistol range and a 10 bay action pistol range
• Phase IV – to complete classroom facilities for firearm safety and marksmanship training
• Phase V – to create a five-stand, 12 station sporting clays range

At present the CMP leases outdoor ranges at Camp Perry to conduct the Small Arms Firing Schools, clinics and games events during the annual National Matches in July and August. Additionally the CMP has conducted regional games events and clinics at non-CMP facilities located in Arizona, California, Georgia, North Carolina and Oklahoma, with others planned.

The first phase of the project encompasses establishing a 50-point rifle range with firing lines at 100 and 200 yards, complete with fully-operational target pits with manually-operated cantilever style target carriers and a state of the art electronic target system. Two target bays are being built for testing.

“Eventually the CMP Outdoor Marksmanship Facility will provide us greater flexibility with outdoor programming and allow us to offer additional opportunities to participate in firearm safety and marksmanship events in the southeastern U.S.,” Michaels added.

This side view of the sample target pits shows the land clearing, excavation and construction of the test points. Construction of the new facility will require significant clearing and reshaping of the terrain. The range is situated in a hollow that provides a natural target berm and firing point layout.

The CMP currently provides firearm safety and marksmanship programs and competitions through more than 2,000 affiliated clubs across the nation. For more information about the CMP, its programs and opportunities, visit us online at www.TheCMP.org. For information on the CMP’s Planned Giving program, please visit www.odcmp.plannedgiving.org. 

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