Basic HP Rifle Training Class
Square Deal Sportsmen, Inc.
2003

Schedule of Basic HP Rifle Training Classes being held at Square Deal Sportsmen, Inc. Binghamton NY area, easily reached via Interstate I81, and NY Route 17 expressway.

These Classes are an excellent introduction to NRA style highpower rifle competition, and provide training about the M1 Garand and other highpower rifles, safe firearm handling, and rifle marksmanship. They satisfy the requirement for proof of participation in marksmanship training. The class includes use of an M1 Garand (or M1 Carbine) for the 50 round match portion of the class - 30-06 M2 Ball (or 30cal Carbine) ammo for the match is included.

2003 Basic HP Rifle Training Class Dates:
Sat. July 26
Sat. August 23
There is quite a bit of confusion about what type of rifles are allowed in various forms of highpower rifle competition, and clinics. For the most accurate information about a specific event, you should contact the event coordinator directly, however here are some general guidelines:
Highpower rifle means a rifle that fires a center-fire cartridge, with a bullet usually between .22 and a maximum of .30 caliber.
Qualification for purchase of an M1 Garand through CMP (DCM) requires that a certain number of shots be fired in a sanctioned match or training event - type of rifle used is not stated by DCM/CMP.
Some clinics provide the rifles (Square Deal has both M1 Garands and Carbines), or you can bring your own metallic sighted, center-fire rifle. Other clinics may be only for service rifles. Again, check with the event coordinator if the written program description is not clear.
DCM EIC (Leg matches) and other military and DCM competitions are usually restricted to SERVICE rifles - M1 Garand (30-06 or .308), M14 / M1-A (.308), and M16 / AR15 (.223) - no "flat-top" AR's.
NRA sanctioned competitions have 2 primary classes of rifles - SERVICE rifle, and MATCH rifle. SERVICE rifle is basically as described above for DCM EIC matches. MATCH rifle is generally any other hp rifle (metallic sights, etc.) that doesn't meet the service rifle definition (see NRA HP rules for exact details).
Metallic sights (front and rear) are required for both service and match rifles. The NRA HP rules allow a lens in either the front (of match rifles) or rear to help clarity, but not for magnification. In DCM competition matches, the lens is not allowed. A telescopic sight is only allowed in a specific stage of NRA Long Range (1000 yards) shooting.
Service rifles must use sights of standard USA Army design for the rifle. Match rifles can use a post or aperature front sight.
Rapid-fire stages in HP matches: part of the standard course of fire for HP rifle is called "rapid-fire" in which 10 rounds are shot in 60 or 70 seconds. You must begin firing with 5 or less rounds in the rifle, when empty you reload and complete the string of 10 shots. What this means is that to score well, your rifle needs to be able to be reloaded quickly with at least 5 rounds.
A few related thoughts: Although called rapid-fire, there is actually plenty of time to fire the 10 shots without rushing. Good shooters take a little extra time before firing the first shot to make sure that their position is exactly right - that way they don't have to work to regain the position between every shot. The key to rapid-fire is to establish a good position, shoot with a steady, unrushed rhythm, practice the reload so it can be done dependably, and develop a feeling for how much time is left.