New CMP Springfield/Military Bolt Rifle Match Debuts at 2002 National Matches By Dale Miles, CMP Staff Shooters are a strange bunch. They are constantly seeking the newest product, the latest technique or the newest theories to help shrink the size of their groups, raise their scores or simply let them shoot more comfortably and enjoyably. Shooters are also a nostalgic lot. Many shooters still own their first rifle or are unable to part with the first rifle they used to win a competition. Many foster their nostalgia and interest in times past by collecting older firearms that remind them of bygone days, or are simply great guns. It's great to collect these great old guns, but now instead of just storing them in a gun safe to show off and examine every once in a while, the popular John C. Garand Match and the new Springfield/Military Bolt Action Rifle Match give owners of these guns a chance to shoot them in matches designed especially for older rifles. The CMP Springfield/Military Bolt Rifle Match that was inaugurated at the 2002 National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio gives the shooter a chance to work any as-issued military bolt-action rifle through its paces. Even though the match is called the Springfield/Military Bolt Rifle Match, shooters are not limited to Springfields or even American-made bolt-action military rifles. In fact, the match was divided into two rifle classes, one for shooters using Springfields and one for shooters using any other as-issued, manually operated military rifle. Mausers, Lee-Enfields, Moisin-Nagants, Arisakas, Swiss K-31s and other military bolt guns are legal for the match. However, rifles must comply with CMP rules for As-Issued Military Rifles or As-Issued Foreign Military Rifles (see CMP rulebook for any questions on rifles as well as for match rules). Whichever rifle a shooter chooses to use, the course of fire will challenge veteran shooters and still allow newcomers to successfully complete it. The course of fire consists of three stages, all shot at 200 yards on the highpower SR target. Shooters begin the first stage with five sighting or practice shots and then go on to shoot ten shots for record in a 15-minute time period, all from the prone position. The next stage is the rapid-fire stage. Shooters begin this stage standing, but must get back into the prone position and fire ten shots for record, with one reload, in a 90 second period. Finally, shooters fire ten shots for record from the standing position to round out the course of fire. Although shooting jackets, gloves and spotting scopes are permitted in the match, no elaborate equipment is needed and the amount of equipment seen in the Springfield and Garand Matches is considerably less than that seen in traditional high-power matches. All a shooter needs to bring to the line is an as-issued military rifle with a standard issue web or leather sling, ammunition and perhaps a shooting mat. Hearing and eye protection are, of course, strongly recommended. The inaugural National Springfield Match was held at Camp Perry on August 2, 2002. The announcement of the match created tremendous enthusiasm. When entry cards were released in late May, entries came back so quickly that the 360 firing positions allocated for this year's match were filled in two weeks and a long waiting list was established. This waiting list made it possible to fill every available firing point during the match where a total of 359 score cards were turned in. The total possible score for the match was 300. Jimmy Barner of Emerado, North Dakota, shot the top score. He used a Springfield rifle to fire an impressive 293-6X score. The top score fired by a shooter using a rifle other than a Springfield was fired by Mark Looney from Springfield, Ohio who shot a 290-8x with an as-issued 1896 Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55mm caliber. All shooters who fired scores of 275 or higher in the match received commemorative gold medals. Scores of 266-274 received silver medals, while bronze medals were awarded to any shooter who shot a score of 255-265. Overall, 42 gold medals, 71 silver medals and 71 bronze medals were awarded during the inaugural match. What makes the Springfield Rifle Match so special, however is the appreciation shooters have for the old rifles and the era from which they come. Many competitors chose to shoot the match dressed in period uniforms. There were twin brothers decked out in full World War I Doughboy uniforms, one shooter dressed as a Camp Perry competitor from the 1930s and many others who chose to shoot the match in the uniforms they themselves wore in the military. Some clubs dressed alike and even shot the same style of rifle. One group of friends fired Swiss K-31 rifles and wore camouflage uniforms worn by the Swiss military. Regardless of garb and or score, nearly all of the competitors left the firing line with smiles on their faces. The Springfield/Military Bolt Action Rifle Match gives shooters a chance to use and appreciate some wonderful pieces of history by actually firing them in competitions like the ones they were originally fired in nearly a century ago. Having a match especially designed for these fine rifles is a great alternative to just displaying them on the wall and wondering what it might have been like to shoot them.

The logo for the new Springfield/Military Bolt Rifle Match was featured on the medals awarded to competitors and on the T-shirts that were presented to every competitor who completed the match.   Firing in the Springfield Match begins in the prone position. Shooters fire five sighting shots and ten shots for record in 15 minutes. This is followed by a rapid-fire stage where shooters fire 10 shots in 90 seconds. They load five rounds and must drop from standing to prone, fire the five rounds, reload five additional rounds and fire them, all within the 90-second time limit. The final stage of the Springfield Match is fired in the standing position. Shooters fire ten shots standing in ten minutes. This shooter is using a M1903 Springfield. During the Springfield and Garand Matches at Camp Perry, competitor scores were entered into a computer file by CMP staff on the range. Results were available to all competitors within 20 minutes after each relay was finished. Dr. Carmen Allegra (left), Bethesda, Maryland, is an avid gun collector who attended the Small Arms Firing School and then fired his first competition ever when he participated in the 2002 Springfield Match. He used a M1903 rifle he had just received from the CMP. His 267 score earned him a silver medal and congratulations from Director of Civilian Marksmanship, Gary Anderson (right).

The Springfield/Military Bolt Action Rifle Match Rifles (two types of rifles are used): Springfield M1903 or M1903A3 rifles. Must be in as-issued condition. National Match rifles or rifles with NM features are not permitted. See Rule 6.2.4 in the CMP Competition Rules (Rulebooks can be ordered from the CMP for $3.00 or the rules can be downloaded from the CMP web site at http://www.odcmp.com/Forms/2002%20Rule%20Books.pdf.) Foreign Military Rifles. Any other U. S. or foreign manually operated (bolt or straight-pull) military rifle that is in as-issued condition. Arsenal-installed shims are permitted in foreign military rifles only. U. S. military type slings are permitted. See Rule 6.2.5 in the CMP Competition Rules. Targets: 200 yard SR target. Springfield or Military Bolt Rifle Matches may also be fired at 100 yards on the SR-1 target (200 yard SR target reduced for 100 yards). Course of Fire: Stage 1: Five sighting shots and ten shots for record, prone position, slow fire (load one shot at a time), 15 minute time limit. Stage 2: 10 shots for record, standing to prone position, rapid fire (Shooters load and fire five shots, then load five additional shots and fire them all with the time limit.), 90 second time limit. Stage 3: 10 shots for record, standing position, slow fire (load one shot at a time), time limit of 10 minutes. Rules: Rules for the Springfield Rifle/Military Bolt Action Rifle Match are published in the CMP Competition Rules. The CMP Competition Rules can be downloaded from the CMP web site at http://www.odcmp.com/Forms/2002%20Rule%20Books.pdf or copies can be ordered from the CMP for $3.00 each. Sanctioned Club Matches: If your club wants to conduct a Springfield Rifle/Military Bolt Action Rifle Match that is sanctioned by the CMP, contact the CMP Competitions Department (competitions@odcmp.com, or call 419-635-2141, ext. 1132) to request an application form.