sporting rifle match

[Don Fischer]

Any of you guys heard of "sporting rifle match"?

http://demigod.org/articles/practical-long-range-rifle-shooting-equipment/
http://coloradomultigun.com/

[Bob_VT]

I consider it just another "class" invented to satisfy some shooters.  I looked it up and the smalles caliber restriction is .243.  I suspect it was designed by people that were getting trashed by .223 calibers.

[Don Fischer]

I don't think so. You have to walk a two mile course with ten shooting stations. You also have to carry everything you take yourself. At each station you shoot one round each at six targets and keep track only of the number of hits. The targets range from 175yds to 700 yds. Vary in size and are made of 3/8th" steel plate.

At each station, the shooter chooses his own position but at times they claim prone might not be avaliable due to high grass ect. There is a stake at each and the shooter must be able to touch the stake from his/her shooting spot. Looking at the photo's in the links, it might be intimadating for a beginner because of they type rifles seen being shot. These are expensive accuracy jobs. But because of the size of the target's, up to 14" if I remember right, a very good shooting factory rifle can compete. That in it's self is different. Where else can you take an off the shelf product, tweek it a little and actually be able to compete with it? My understanding is that nobody has ever cleaned the course, sounds kinda tuff. Makes me wonder how some of these guys claiming to shoot 400, 500 and 600+ yds would fare.

[Zak Smith]

Hi,

The direct link to the match web-site is: http://demigod.org/srm

The "Sporting Rifle Match" at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton NM is designed to test a rifleman's skills shooting small targets from approximately 175 to 700 yards in the natural terrain, with what he can carry throughout the course. (The "Sporting Rifle Match" has nothing to do with NRA High Power "Sporting Rifle" class.) 

The name of these match carries no particular meaning.  These type of matches have been called "hunting", "sniper", "tactical", and "Keneyathlon" matches, but when this one's concept was "sold" to the host range, it was thought that calling it "sporting rifle" would be the path of the least resistance.   The whole point is to reward first-round hits on mid to long-range targets in a field setting, with a practical rifle.   Note that there are essentially no restriction on what kind of rifle is allowed, provided it is "safe".

The caliber is restricted to above 6mm simply because it is impossible to spot hits on a 600-yard steel target from a 223.   The caliber is restricted to 300WinMag end below and 3200fps or slower to prevent target damage.   

Nobody has cleaned the match yet, so if you think you can do it, come show us how it's done.