The Rules
MATCH RULES
This rules summary is based on
NRA Smallbore Rule Book with slight modifications to attract as many people as possible.
The two classes will keep things fair, utilize the
NRA Ladder (so you can track your progress from Marksman to Expert level),
and allow for 50ft, 75ft/25yd and 50yd ranges to compete together in same group.
We will have two match classes:
- 4P NRA Conventional Smallbore (for those with advanced equipment), using A-17, A-7 or A-23 target at 50ft, 75ft/25yd, or 50yd.
- 4P NRA Light Rifle (for those with regular sporting rifles), using A-32 / A-32-Modified or A-31 target at 50ft or 50yd.
Key modifications to NRA 4P rules:
- Any rim-fire caliber.
- Open, peep and telescopic sights will shoot separately.
- Positions are:
4P (Prone, Standing, Sitting, Kneeling - shot in that order)
Note: if you cannot shoot from all four positions (either range rules, physical limitation, or any other alibi) you may shoot any combination of the following:
Standing AND/OR Prone AND/OR Unsupported Bench (elbows on bench and sling only- instead of prone)
These alternate positions are scored and recorded separately and are NOT a combined 2P class.
Guys & gals, don't worry about the "humbling" experience after shooting this course the first few times.
We've all been there. I promise you steady improvement if you stick to it.
As long as this online match gives you a reason to go out there, practice position shooting and move you up the skills ladder I think we have succeeded. Monthly match results are just to make it fun. Don't forget, sanctioned NRA matches are scored at each skill level separately.
Learning Links:
I strongly recommend attending a local Appleseed (
http://appleseedinfo.org/) to improve your position shooting skills.
See these CMP pdf-s for correct body positions:
And these videos from 1989 Highpower Position Clinic:
Books to consider:
- "Leather Sling and Shooting Positions" by Jim Owens
- "Competitive Shooting" by A.A. Yur'Yev
- "Ways of the Rifle" by Gaby Buhlmann
- "Rifle Steps to Success" or "Rifle: Steps to Success" by Launi Meili
- "Olympic Target Rifle Shooting" by Ralf Horneber
- "Shooting for Gold" by William Krilling
- "Rifle Shooting as a Sport" by Bernd Klingner
We will use NRA Smallbore Rifle Rules with the following slight modifications marked in
BOLD RED.
1) 4P NRA Conventional Smallbore (Rules:
http://www.nrahq.org/compete/RuleBooks/SBR/sbr-index.pdf)
Rifle
Safe
any caliber rimfire rifle (.17 cal. use NRA .22 cal scoring gauge to make it fair), with
no weight restrictions. Adjustable butt plate , palm rests, Schuetzen type butt plates, etc. can be used (
see NRA Smallbore Rules).
Other Equipment and Accessories
- Clothing, padding, shooting jackets,
slings, etc.
allowed (
see NRA Smallbore Rules).
-
Use a shooting mat, a thick painters mat from Home Depot, couple of yoga/camping foam mats, or an old piece of carpet will do. I also recommend knee/elbow pads (Home Depot) and a bunch of rolled up towels to make a Kneeling Roll for comfort and thus better scores.
Sights
"O-Class" - open iron sighted rifles,
"C-Class" - closed non-magnified iron sighted rifles (aperture or peep sights), non-magnified red dot,
"T-Class" - telescopic, magnified aperture and magnified red dot.
Target and Distance Options
A-17 target, 50 feet,
one shots per bulls-eye.
A-7 target, 75 feet / 25 yards,
max. two shots per bulls-eye.
A-23 target, 50 yards,
five shots per bulls-eye.
Many indoor ranges require you to use their targets ($), so just tape yours on top of theirs.
2) 4P NRA Light Rifle (Sitting position added to regular rules) (Rules Section 22:
http://www.nrahq.org/compete/RuleBooks/SBR/sbr-index.pdf)
Rifle
Safe
any caliber rimfire rifle (.17 cal. use NRA .22 cal scoring gauge to make it fair), having a
trigger pull of not less than 2 pounds, and
weighing 8½ pounds or less (including sights & sling). Adjustable butt plate permitted if placed in center position. No palm rests, Schuetzen type butt plates, etc. (
see NRA Light Rifle Rules).
Other Equipment and Accessories
- Clothing, padding, etc. (
see NRA Light Rifle Rules).
-
Non-shooting leather work glove may be used to protect forehand from sling swivel.
-
A basic military sling or carry sling not to exceed 1 ¼" width may be used in all but standing position (get one here
http://www.appleseedstore.flyingcart.com/?p=detail&pid=10&cat_id=0).
-
Use a shooting mat, a thick painters mat from Home Depot, couple of yoga/camping foam mats, or an old piece of carpet will do. I also recommend knee/elbow pads (Home Depot) and a bunch of rolled up towels to make a Kneeling Roll for comfort and thus better scores.
Sights
"O-Class" - open iron sighted rifles,
"C-Class" - closed non-magnified iron sighted rifles (aperture or peep sights), non-magnified red dot,
"T-Class" - telescopic, magnified aperture and magnified red dot (maximum 6X).
Target and Distance Options
A-32 target, 50 feet,
two shots per bulls-eye.
A-32-Modified target, 50 feet,
two shots per bulls-eye (modified to preserve same aspect ratio with A-31, as there is between A-17 and A-23).
A-31 target, 50 yards,
five shots per bulls-eye.
Many indoor ranges require you to use their targets ($), so just tape yours on top of theirs.
Rest of this post applies to both 4P NRA Conventional Smallbore and 4P NRA Light Rifle classes.
Order good quality targets here: http://www.pistoleer.com/targets/rifle/
or Download printable target pdf-s (PM CZ452UltraLux with issues)
:
(Make sure you have PAGE SCALING set to NONE in Acrobat Print Menu to print correct size).
A-17 (50ft - 8.5 MOA black) (
be careful which bull you are shooting or cross shooting
as they are close together)-
http://www.box.net/shared/2edlrdfnmh
A-7 (75ft/25yd) -
http://www.box.net/shared/4atdqu8av0
A-23 (50yd - 7.4 MOA black) -
http://www.box.net/shared/m6rf4535ci -
OR 2 Bulls on Legal Paper
http://www.box.net/shared/9e8mngxnua
A-32 (50ft - 10.7 MOA black) -
http://www.box.net/shared/qimhuhza2b
A-32-Modified (50ft - 7.8 MOA black) -
http://www.box.net/shared/1azpbyvr7f
A-31 (50yd - 8.8 MOA black) -
http://www.box.net/shared/2rjit37svf -
OR 2 Bulls on Legal Paper
http://www.box.net/shared/an3qjul4yi
Course of Fire
Distance: 50 Feet, 75ft/25yd (for Conventional Smallbore)
or 50 Yards (all compete together due to target re-sizing)
Positions: Prone, Standing (no sling), Sitting (added to Light Rifle class), Kneeling - shot in that order.OR for those that can't do all 4 positions (scored separately - NOT a combined 2P class)
- Standing (no sling)
- Unsupported Bench (sitting with elbows on the bench without any support other then sling) - instead of prone.
Time: 15 minutes per position (10 shoots - average 90 sec. per shot), with
5 minute change-over (break) and 5 minute "prep time" before each position with "unlimited sighting shots", for a
total of 100 minutes to complete all 4 positions.
Those shooting
standing and unsupported bench have 40 minutes total time to complete (
15 min each position,
with two 5 minute change-overs (breaks) and two "prep times" of 5 min. each).
No. of Shots in each position: 10 (Max. 1 shot per bull on A-17 and A32-Modified, Max. 2 shots per bull on A-7, A-32, and Max. 5 shots per bull on A-23, A-31)
Max. Points: 400-40x
100-10x each (for those shooting standing and unsupported bench only)
Many indoor ranges don't allow prone shooting due to lack of space, but if you ask to be placed at the end of the firing line I think they can make an exception.
SCORING and POSTING
I'm sure we all agree that an online postal match has to be based on an honor system, so just a reminder to use consecutive shoots/targets.
Use official NRA .22 cal inward scoring gauge in deciding doubtful shots (touching ring (not cracked) = inside ring score).
Shooters using .17 cal. use NRA .22 cal scoring gauge to make it fair.
Get a $6 plain gauge or $10 magnified here (I recommend magnified):
http://www.champchoice.com/cat-Scoring_Gauges-335.aspx
For scoring Xs on 50ft/75ft A-17/A-32/A-7 targets please see
NRA Smallbore Rule Book - Section 14: Scoring.
We'll score 2 classes, Conventional Smallbore and Light Rifle.
Each class will have a 4P category, plus Standing and Unsupported Bench/Prone categories separately, NOT a combined 2P category.
Those shooting 4P can have their standing and prone scores applied in the Standing and Unsupported Bench/Prone categories as well.
Post:
- 4P total and number of Xs, and each position total score plus number of Xs (or just your Standing and Unsupported Bench/Prone score with Xs) followed by your RFC name and state.
- Competition class (NRA Smallbore or NRA Light Rifle), Sight category (O, C, T class), and NRA Ladder Rating (don't forget to count just standing, kneeling and prone in Light Rifle class).
- Equipment used with details.
- Range distance and weather conditions.
- Pictures of the target if you can.
How?
Use
http://imageshack.us/, browse for picture of your target, click upload, copy (Ctrl-C) the link next to words "Direct Link", in your RFC post use "Insert Image" icon (the yellow icon with the mountains) and paste the link you just copied. Image of your target should show up in your post.
E.g.
338-10X (80-1X, 83-2X, 85-3X, 90-4X) - BigGuns, FL
NRA Light Rifle, C-Class, Sharpshooter (missed Expert by 2pts 253 vs 255 - don't forget to count just standing, kneeling and prone in Light Rifle class).
Kimber 82G, Wolf Match Target ammo, Kimber Iron Open Sights, 2+ pound trigger
Receiver glass bedded, Trigger modified per instructions on RFC
50 yd, Sunny, 86 Degrees, Wind 5mph at 3 o'clock gusting to 10mph
Pictures
NRA Skill Ladders (to track your progress from Marksman to Expert level).
3P NRA Light Rifle Ladder
Combine your standing, kneeling and prone scores to compare against 3P Light Rifle Ladder.
4P NRA Smallbore Ladder
"Offhand Only" and "Prone Only" ratings in Smallbore class are to be calculated as follows (% of 100 possible points for each position):
Pro-Marksman: 50% prone/bench, 40% standing;
Marksman: 63% prone/bench, 50% standing;
Marksman 1st Class: 75% prone/bench, 60% standing;
Sharpshooter: 83% prone/bench, 70% standing;
Expert: 90% prone/bench, 80% standing;
Distinguished Expert: 96% prone/bench, 91% standing;
