ONLINE REGISTRATION

OFFICIAL PROGRAM

2008 NATIONAL TROPHY PISTOL MATCHES 

   Pistol Small Arms Firing School, 7-8 July

   M9 Pistol EIC Match, 8 July

   President’s Pistol Match, 13 July

   National Trophy Individual Pistol Match, 13 July

   National Trophy Team Match, 13 July

   Junior President's, NTI & NTT Matches, 13 July

Sponsored by:
THE CIVILIAN MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM
Conducted in cooperation with the National Rifle Association
And the Adjutant General’s Department of Ohio
© Civilian Marksmanship Program, 2008

THE NATIONAL MATCHES

In February 1903, an amendment to the War Department Appropriations Bill established the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice (NBPRP). This government advisory board became the predecessor to today’s Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety, Inc. that governs the CMP. The 1903 legislation also authorized the National Matches, commissioned the National Trophy and provided funding to support the National Matches. This historic legislation grew out of a desire to improve military marksmanship and national defense preparedness. Supporters of this act included President Theodore Roosevelt, Secretary of War Elihu Root and NRA President General Bird Spencer.

Pursuant to this Congressional authorization, Army General Order No. 61 was published in April 1903. It directed that the first “National Trophy Match” would be fired at Sea Girt, New Jersey on 8-9 September of that year. Teams of 12 representing the Army, military departments of the states, Navy, Marine Corps and state National Guard organizations competed for the new National “Dogs of War” Trophy. The new National Matches expanded to include their first pistol competition in 1904. The National Matches moved to Camp Perry in 1907 and with few exceptions, Camp Perry has been the home of the National Matches ever since.

The National Matches celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2003 and the 100th anniversary of their first coming to Camp Perry in 2007. In the 105 years since the inauguration of the National Matches, they have been organized 88 times. Peak attendance for the matches occurred in 1962 when the matches were supported and conducted by the Department of Defense and 7,762 competitors participated. Defense Department support was withdrawn after the 1967 matches. The NRA and a cadre of volunteers successfully continued the matches, although with significantly reduced participation. Subsequent to that and until 1995, the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice secured federal appropriations to partially support the matches, but federal support for marksmanship created continuing political controversy. As a result, the U. S. Congress privatized the Civilian Marksmanship Program and the National Matches in 1996, while enacting federal legislation that continued to authorize the matches (Title 36 USC, §40725-40727). Today, the National Matches include the CMP National Trophy Pistol and Rifle Matches, the Pistol and Rifle Small Arms Firing Schools, CMP Games rifle events and the NRA National Pistol, Smallbore Rifle and Highpower Rifle Championships. The matches are now conducted by a partnership involving the CMP, NRA and Ohio National Guard. In recent years, attendance has grown, with combined participation in the 2007 CMP and NRA National Matches events exceeding 6,000 shooters.

2008 CMP NATIONAL TROPHY PISTOL MATCHES

The National Trophy Rifle and Pistol Matches trace their history to the 1903 legislation that established the first National Matches and appropriated funds to acquire the National “Dogs of War” Trophy, which continues to be one of the most prestigious team trophies in U. S. marksmanship. When the National Trophy Matches expanded to include pistol events, the first trophy awarded was the General Custer Trophy that annually goes to the National Trophy Individual Pistol Champion. The Custer Trophy was first presented in 1904. The Gold Cup National Trophy Team Trophy was first awarded in 1920. Today, the National Trophy Pistol Matches provide service pistol national championship competitions that preserve the finest traditions of military marksmanship in the United States. A total of 23 different National Trophies are now awarded during the National Trophy Pistol Matches, including the Rose B. Krelstein Trophy that was first presented in 2007.

NEW IN 2008--NATIONAL MATCHES AIR GUN EVENTS

The new CMP Competition Center—Camp Perry that will feature an 80-firing point air gun range with electronic targets will be finished and open during the 2008 National Matches. The traditional re-entry air gun matches that previously were held in a small air gun range on Commercial Row will move to the new Competition Center located just east of Petrarca Range. Pistol shooters who would also like to fire in air pistol matches are invited to bring their air pistols to Camp Perry. Daily air pistol reentry matches can be fired in the new range during the pistol matches from 8 July through 12 July. On 13 July, after the National Trophy Pistol Matches, a squadded 60-shot air pistol match will be fired. This match will be concluded with finals for men (women and junior finals will be scheduled if there are sufficient junior and women entries). See page 12 in this program for additional details on these matches.

CAMP PERRY--THE HOME OF THE NATIONAL MATCHES

the years following the first National Matches in 1903, shooting leaders struggled to find suitable sites for the Matches. They went to Fort Riley, Kansas in 1904 and returned to Sea Girt in 1905 and 1906, but the facilities there were not adequate to support growing participation in the matches. A permanent home was needed. General Ammon Critchfield, who became the Adjutant General of Ohio in 1903, selected the present Camp Perry site as a potential home for the matches, obtained an appropriation from the Ohio Legislature to start construction in 1905 and established Camp Perry in 1906. In January 1907, a proposal from the Ohio Rifle Association to make Camp Perry the home of the National Matches was accepted by the NBPRP Executive Committee, which asked the Department of War to transfer the matches to the new Ohio State Rifle Range. Their ranges there were named Camp Perry in honor of Commodore Oliver Perry, whose 1813 sea victory over the British took place in Lake Erie just off-shore from the new site. The 2007 National Matches celebrated 100 years of National Matches at Camp Perry in 2007.

This Preliminary Match Program provides detailed information concerning the 2008 National Trophy Pistol Matches that competitors can use to submit their entries and plan their participation in these matches..

2008 National Trophy Pistol Matches Schedule

Information on each of the major events and competitions that take place during the National Trophy Pistol Matches is presented below. The events and competitions are listed in the order in which they occur.

PISTOL SMALL ARMS FIRING SCHOOL

The official program for the Pistol Small Arms Firing School is posted on the CMP web site at http://www.odcmp.com/nm/safs.htm.  The 2008 Pistol SAFS offers classroom instruction taught by the U. S. Army Marksmanship Unit, on-the-range coaching by military pistol team members and 25 yard practice firing. The Pistol SAFS concludes with the M9 Pistol EIC Match. Check-in for the school is on Sunday, 6 July. Classroom instruction and practice firing is on Monday, 7 July. The M9 EIC Match will be fired on Tuesday morning, 8 July. Anyone who wants to learn gun safety and good target shooting skills, regardless of previous experience, is welcome to attend this school. The school also is open to experienced shooters who want a refresher course in service pistol and bulls-eye pistol target shooting and who would like to compete in the M9 EIC Match. Starting in 2008, however, all students in the Pistol SAFS are required to fire M9 pistols and 9mm ammunition issued for the school; personal service pistols may no longer be fired in the school. Registration in the Pistol SAFS is required for anyone who wants to fire in the M9 EIC Match. Registration fees are $40.00 for adults and $30.00 for juniors. SAFS students are issued M9 pistols to fire, ammunition for practice and competition, a SAFS T-shirt and certificate, a USAMU Service Pistol Guide and entry in the M9 EIC Match. Register for the 2008 Pistol SAFS and M9 Rifle EIC Match through the CMP Competition Tracker web site at http://clubs.odcmp.com/matches.  Click on “Information” for the 2008 National Trophy Pistol Matches & SAFS. Then follow instructions to register for both SAFS and other National Trophy Pistol events.

CMP M9 PISTOL EIC MATCH

GENERAL INFORMATION. The M9 Pistol EIC Match was added to the National Trophy Pistol Matches program in 2006 as a “Special EIC Match” conducted in conjunction with the Pistol Small Arms Firing School. Non-Distinguished competitors in this match compete for four “introductory” EIC credit points or “legs.” The match is fired with rack grade M9 pistols that are used in the Pistol Small Arms Firing School. This match is designed to introduce competitors to service pistol shooting with the current M9 service pistol and to encourage them to start working towards earning the prestigious Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge.

DATE-TIME. Tuesday, 8 July. Firing begins at 7:30 AM.

COURSE OF FIRE. The M9 Pistol EIC Course of Fire (CMP Rules, Table 11) will be used. All firing is done at 25-yards on the NRA B-8 target. Either a one-handed or a two-handed stance may be used. Competitors begin with 5 sighting shots. Record firing starts with 10 shots slow-fire in five minutes. This is followed by two 5-shot timed-fire series in 20 seconds and two 5-shot rapid-fire series in 10 seconds each.

ELIGIBILITY. Any student in the Pistol Small Arms Firing School who is not Distinguished and who has not earned any EIC credit points is eligible to fire in the M9 Pistol EIC Match. Any SAFS students who are Distinguished or who have previously earned pistol EIC points may fire in the match, but they are not be eligible to earn EIC credit points.

SQUADDING. The M9 Pistol EIC Match is scheduled to be fired on Pistol Range 1. A maximum of 96 firing points and five relays will be squadded. Range capacity for the Pistol Small Arms Firing School and M9 EIC Match is 480 competitors. Competitors will be squadded by USAMU instructors at the time they check in for the Pistol Small Arms Firing School on Sunday, 6 July.

PISTOLS. The M9 EIC Match is fired with rack-grade U. S. Military M9 pistols that are used for the Small Arms Firing School. All competitors must fire with the pistol issued to them, regardless of whether they are eligible to earn EIC points in this match. All ineligible competitors may fire in the M9 EIC Match, but they will be recorded as “out-of-competition.”

AMMUNITION. The CMP will issue 9 mm ammo loaded with 115 grain bullets for use in the EIC match. This ammunition must be fired by all competitors.

Paul Kane, Rockville, MD, 2007 CMP M9 Pistol EIC match winner.

OTHER RULES. Other rules governing the conduct of the M9 EIC Match are found in the 2008 CMP Competition Rules (see especially Rule 9.7).

AWARDS. The highest scoring eligible competitor (must not be Distinguished, must not have earned any previous EIC points) in the M9 EIC Match receives a CMP Recognition Plaque. The top 10% of all eligible competitors receive 4 EIC credit points and a CMP M9 EIC Match medal. All competitors who complete the M9 EIC Match will receive a distinctive M9 EIC Match pin when they turn in their scorecards.

ENTRY FEES. $40.00 for adults, $30.00 for juniors. This entry fee covers both the Pistol Small Arms Firing School and the M9 EIC Match.

2007 WINNER: Paul Kane, Rockville, MD, 271-6X

NATIONAL MATCHES RECORD:  Nick Pappas, Chicago, Illinois, 283-7X, 2006

PRESIDENT’S PISTOL MATCH
AND JUNIOR PRESIDENT’S PISTOL MATCH

GENERAL INFORMATION. The President’s Pistol Match is a National Trophy Pistol Match. It was first fired in 1981. The President’s Rifle and Pistol Matches have become especially prestigious because the match winners receive letters of congratulations from the President of the United States. President Theodore Roosevelt began this tradition for the President’s Rifle Match in 1904. This tradition of recognition was extended to include the President’s Pistol Match. Recent U. S. Presidents, including Presidents Clinton and Bush, have continued the tradition by providing letters of congratulations to the winners of both the President’s Pistol and Rifle Matches.

DATE-TIME. Sunday, 13 July. Firing begins at 7:00 AM.

COURSE OF FIRE.  The President’s Pistol Match Course of Fire (CMP Rules, Table 2) will be used. Competitors fire 20 shots slow-fire at 50 yards, 10 shots timed-fire at 25 yards and 10 shots rapid-fire at 25 yards. Juniors who compete for Junior awards must fire the same course of fire with .22 cal. rimfire pistols.

SQUADDING. Firing will be done on Pistol Ranges 1, 3 and 4. Two relays of 276 competitors each will be squadded through a random draw. If the total number of entries exceeds 552 competitors, additional competitors will be squadded on Range 2 to the capacity of that range. Competitors’ squadding will be drawn and issued at the time of check-in at In-Processing.

Steve Reiter, Sr, Tucson, AZ, 2007 President’s Pistol Match winner.

PISTOLS. Service pistols that comply with CMP Rules 6.4 and 6.5 must be used. Juniors who compete for junior awards must fire a Standard Smallbore Pistol that complies with CMP Rule 6.5.3.

AMMUNITION. Any safe ammunition may be used in accordance with CMP Rule 6.7.2.

OTHER RULES. Other rules governing the conduct of the President’s Pistol Match are found in the 2008 CMP Competition Rules at http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/Rulebook.pdf (see especially Rule 7.2).

AWARDS. The winner of the President’s Pistol Match receives the President’s Pistol Trophy (the competitor receives a trophy plaque and his/her name is permanently engraved on the trophy; the trophy is retained by the CMP on permanent display at Camp Perry), a President’s Pistol Match medallion, a presentation M1 Garand rifle and a letter of congratulations from the President of the United States. The M1 Garand rifle will be prepared for presentation by Eric Pierce of National Match Armory; Rendon, Texas; http://www.nationalmatcharmory.com/.  The top 100 competitors in the President’s Pistol Match are designated as the “President’s Hundred” and receive President’s Pistol Match medallions and certificates. The high junior who fires a .22 cal. smallbore pistol in the President’s Pistol Match receives a CMP Recognition Plaque.

ENTRY FEES. $30.00 for adults, $15.00 for juniors. 

2007 WINNER. Steve Reiter, Sr., Tucson, AZ, 386-15X

2007 JUNIOR WINNER.  Joseph Totts, Mogadore, OH, 369-14X

NATIONAL MATCHES RECORD. SSG James Henderson, USAR, 389-10X, 2005
 

NATIONAL TROPHY INDIVIDUAL PISTOL MATCH
AND JUNIOR NTI PISTOL MATCH

GENERAL INFORMATION. The National Trophy Individual Pistol Match (NTI) is a National Trophy Pistol Match. It was first fired in 1904, the second year of the National Matches and has become one of the most prestigious National Trophy Pistol events. The NTI is also an Excellence-in-Competition match where the top 10% of all Non-Distinguished competitors, military and civilian, earn EIC credit points.

DATE-TIME. Sunday, 13 July. Firing begins immediately after the President’s Pistol Match is completed.

COURSE OF FIRE. The Pistol National Match Course of Fire (CMP Rules, Table 3) will be used. Competitors fire 10 shots slow-fire at 50 yards, 10 shots timed-fire at 25 yards and 10 shots rapid-fire at 25 yards. Juniors who compete for Junior awards must fire .22 cal. rimfire pistols.

SSG James Henderson, USA, Columbus, GA, 2007 National Trophy Individual Pistol Match winner.

SQUADDING. Firing will be done on Pistol Ranges 1, 3 and 4. Two relays of 276 competitors each will be squadded through a random draw. If the total number of entries exceeds 552 competitors, additional competitors will be squadded on Range 2 to the capacity of that range. Competitors’ squadding will be drawn and issued at the time of check-in at In-Processing. Competitors will have the same relay and firing point assignments for both the President’s and NTI Pistol Matches.

PISTOLS. Service pistols that comply with CMP Rules 6.4 and 6.5 must be used. Juniors who compete for junior awards must fire a Standard Smallbore Pistol that complies with CMP Rule 6.5.3.

AMMUNITION. Any safe ammunition may be used in accordance with CMP Rule 6.7.2.

OTHER RULES. Other rules governing the conduct of the National Trophy Individual Pistol Match are found in the 2008 CMP Competition Rules at http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/Rulebook.pdf (see especially Rule 7.3).

AWARDS. The winner of the National Trophy Individual Pistol Match receives the General Custer Trophy (the competitor receives a trophy plaque and his/her name is permanently engraved on the trophy; the trophy is retained by the CMP on permanent display at Camp Perry), a General Custer Trophy medallion and a presentation M1 Garand rifle. The M1 Garand rifle will be prepared for presentation by National Match Armory; Rendon, Texas; http://www.nationalmatcharmory.com/.  Eight additional National Trophies are awarded to the highest scoring competitors in various categories (see CMP Rules 4.6 and 7.3.2). The top 10% of all Non-Distinguished competitors in the National Trophy Individual Pistol Match receive 10, 8 or 6 EIC credit points in accordance with CMP Rule 10.2 and EIC gold, silver and bronze medals.

ENTRY FEES. $30.00 for adults, $15.00 for juniors. 

2007 WINNER. SSG James Henderson, USA, Columbus, GA, 293-10X

2007 JUNIOR WINNER.  Heather Deppe, Colorado Springs, CO, 276-5X

NATIONAL MATCHES RECORD. MSG Bonnie Harmon, USA, 296-11X, 1978

US Army Blue, 2007 National Trophy Pistol Team Match winner.

NATIONAL TROPHY TEAM MATCH

GENERAL INFORMATION. The National Trophy Pistol Team Match (NTT) is a National Trophy Match. It was first fired in 1920 when competition for the Gold Cup team trophy began. The Pistol NTT is a four-person team match with a requirement that at least one firing member must be a “new shooter.” The Gold Cup Trophy, the Oglethorpe Trophy that is awarded to the best Civilian team, the American Indian Trophy that is awarded to the best Law Enforcement team and the U. S. Coast Guard Memorial Trophy that is awarded to the best Reserve Component team are among the most valuable and most important of all National Trophies. In addition, the Junior Pistol Team Trophy is awarded to the best two-person Junior team that fires the team match with .22 cal. pistols. 

DATE-TIME. Sunday, 13 July. Firing begins after the National Trophy Individual Match is completed.

COURSE OF FIRE.  Four-person teams fire the Pistol National Match Course (CMP Rules, Table 3). All four team members fire 10 shots slow-fire at 50 yards, 10 shots timed-fire at 25 yards and 10 shots rapid-fire at 25 yards. The Junior Pistol Team Match is a two-person team match with the same course of fire.

SQUADDING. The National Trophy Team Match will be fired on Range 3. A maximum of 47 team entries will be accepted. Each team will be assigned two firing points, with two team members firing in the first relay and the other two team members firing in the second. Team entries must be made at Camp Perry In-Processing; teams will be squadded at the time their entries are submitted. Teams in the Junior Pistol Team Match will fire one team member on each relay.

PISTOLS. Service pistols that comply with CMP Rules 6.4 and 6.5 must be used. Juniors who compete for junior awards must fire Standard Smallbore Pistols that comply with CMP Rule 6.5.3.

AMMUNITION.  Any safe ammunition may be used in accordance with CMP Rule 6.7.2.