CMP Announces Full Use of Electronics at 2025 National Rifle Matches
December 17, 2024
By Ashley Dugan, CMP Staff Writer
CAMP PERRY, Ohio – After years of testing, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is thrilled to announce the full use of eTargets at the 2025 National Rifle Matches!
The 2025 National Rifle Matches are set to be held July 22 through Aug. 3. The CMP’s use of eTargets will include all highpower rifle matches, National Trophy rifle competitions and rifle Games events. The target system will also be used for the National Rimfire Sporter Match on July 20 and the National Mid/Long Range Matches, Aug. 4-9.
“Competitors have been asking for this for years, and we have spent a great deal of time and energy getting the system ready to be used on the biggest stage in competitive shooting,” said Brian Williams, CMP highpower manager.
CMP’s line of outdoor electronic targets boasts some of the latest advancements in marksmanship sports. Featuring Kongsberg Target System (KTS) technology, the system includes monitors at each firing point that instantly display accurate shot scores – creating an enhanced experience for individuals on the firing line. The use of the targets also eliminates the need for pit duty, drastically cutting down the duration of each match.
“We have utilized this system for years, and during that time, we have made countless upgrades and improvements,” Williams explained. “We believe that we now offer the most accurate, easiest to use eTarget system available – working with KTS, developing the system to accommodate the way that we conduct matches and to give the competitors the very best system interface.”
The KTS system has been permanently installed at CMP’s Talladega Marksmanship Park in Alabama since its inception as well as on Camp Perry’s Petrarca Range in Ohio. The mobile version of the KTS system, which has been featured at all CMP Travel Games events and the National Matches highpower series for the last several years, will be the applied targets for the 2025 National Matches.
“With an increasing number of affiliate local clubs converting to eTarget systems, there is a growing expectation that the National Matches should be conducted this way,” Williams went on. “Shooting on eTargets is just a better experience for all competitors.”
As another advantage, the eTarget system at the National Matches will include the KTS Shooter’s Journal, which keeps a log of each individual’s shots/scores on the firing line. Visit the Electronic Targets page on the CMP website at https://thecmp.org/competitions/live-targets/ to view a video on how the eTarget system works!
The 2025 National Matches will be held on the historic ranges at the Camp Perry National Guard Training Facility in Port Clinton, Ohio. Learn more at https://thecmp.org/cmp-national-matches/.
Really looking forward to E-Targets for the nationals. I shot the long range practice match on e-targets last summer and when talking equipment, a competitor mentioned that subsonic bullets at the target are not always picked up by the acoustic sensors. I am curious if that is actually the case and if there is any testing to support that claim. After hearing about E-targets for rimfire this coming year, I wondered if competitors using slower velocity rimfire ammunition on the E-Targets may reduce reliability of the acoustic sensors picking up the shot impacts. Would a general recommendation be sent out about using high velocity rimfire ammunition for this case?
If what I heard that about bullets in the subsonic range not being picked up by the sensors is not correct, I am more than accepting of that as well.
The targets that are used for Highpower Rifle are built differently than the ones that are used for rimfire. With the Highpower targets we have done a great deal of testing and have found that bullet speed at the target is not essential to the target being able to pick up the shot. We have not run into any issues with bullets that are far below the speed of sound registering just fine. For the small-bore targets we have found very similar results, there is no need to shoot high velocity ammunition to get these targets to register the shots. With these targets being “closed chamber” targets, they are far more tolerant of slower bullet speeds. You can feel confident on both ranges just using your regular ammunition.
Brian Williams
Highpower Manager
Civilian Marksmanship Program
Thank you Brian. I had a feeling there was more to it than the conversation on the ready line. I think I can speak for most of the competitors and say we are lucky to have you and your expertise working for CMP.
The 10-ring for the Rimfire Sporter has been white on the paper targets. Will it be white on the e-targets also?
Chico,
The 7-9 ring will be black with a white 10-ring. We are currently doing an indoor Rimfire Sporter league at Lake Erie Arms and using the eTargets. You can view photos at https://cmp1.zenfolio.com/p818503765.
Thank you,
Christine
Will Carbine also be fired on etargets?
The M1 carbine match “WILL” be fired on eTargets at the 2025 National Matches. This will make scoring a great deal easier, and remove the issue of being able to see the bottom targets.
Brian Williams
Highpower Manager
Civilian Marksmanship Program
With this system & all the relays planned, will we be able to shoot re-entry GSMM matches
Thanks.
We will not allow reentries this year, as we want to make sure that the transition to eTargets goes as smooth as possible. There are a lot of moving parts, to this and some things that we are still working on today and we surely do not want to disappoint our competitors. I understand that this is something that is important and we will work to make reentry available in the future.
Brian Williams
Highpower Manager
Civilian Marksmanship Program
My only problem with this is that there are now so many available relays, I might have a hard time deciding to shoot over 1, 2, 3, or 4 days to get my 4-5 GSM matches in (fifth being Roosevelt, please!). It’s a horrible problem to have. :<) I've shot 4 GSM matches quite a few times at travel games when it's available and I need to. It will be nice to have the option to shoot more than 2 matches in day at Perry. Hopefully anyway.
Kyle
You will not be limited to the number of matches that you can shoot in any given day. This will run much like the travel games, 1 will shoot 2 will verify, then 2 will shoot and 1 will verify. Then we will squad the next group as relay 3 and 4, and so on for the entire day. The relays will fill quickly so I would recommend getting signed up early.
Brian Williams
Highpower Manager
Civilian Marksmanship Program
How will it work for the NTIT match?
What range commands would be used.
Will we be able to use tablets with wyfi connections?
The NTIT will still be shot on pulled targets. The KTS system is not compatible with any Wi-Fi device like some of the other eTarget systems. There is a supplied tablet for each firing point. There is a “Live Target View” available on the web, so you would be able to see your target on-line, but you will need to have internet access. Most of the time a cell phone will work great as a second monitor.
Brian Williams
Highpower Manager
Civilian Marksmanship Program
Will these be used interactively for P100 or will this COF be shot blind during rapids?
Brian
The P100 will be shot with the monitors in standard mode. All shots will show when fired.
Brian Williams
Highpower Manager
Civilian Marksmanship Program
With the use of electronic targets and 24 relays for GSM this year, how about adding in the Roosevelt Match as an option with the GSM. It uses the same course of fire as the GSM and it might get people to shoot another match while at nationals. Also it would give two venues each year for Roosevelt Competitors.
Leo
This is a something that we will take into consideration, thank you for the idea.
Brian Williams
Highpower Manager
Civilian Marksmanship Program
I have very mixed emotions about this. Timing could not be more perfect for me as I’m currently 64. But it’s the end of an era that I was grateful to have experienced.
I’m with you Arther. I’m glad my Jr’s got to experience pit service the last few years.
2024 was my first year at Nationals and I’m really glad to have experienced the pits! Glad it’ll be a one and done but a great experience that makes me feel more like one of the crew.
I hope this means it will be easier to shoot two matches in one day. I’d like to shoot the Springfield Match in the morning then Modern Military in the afternoon on the same day.
Dan, this is one of the reasons that we went to eTargets, more shooting and a better experience.
Brian Williams
Highpower Manager
Civilian Marksmanship Program
That’s great news! I’m looking forward to shooting the matches this summer, especially Vintage Sniper which means I need to double up one day to get in all the ones I like to shoot.
This is great news! We (Illinois shooters) have had a hard time finding pit pullers for team events. Many of us have had to go to the pits instead of shooting. This will allow more competitors to shoot and maybe save money, as a side benefit.
It is time for the tools of the game to catch up with modern technology. Should entice more shooters to participate. Great news.
How many monitors on each target? One shooter, one score keeper? Two monitors? How about a team match 4? Two shooters a coach and a score keeper all on the same target? 4 monitors?
Dave
We don’t have enough tablets, to supply more than one per point. But, we have a KTS live view that is available on your device that will allow you to have a couple more monitors on your point if needed.
Brian Williams
Highpower Manager
Will there be targets at 200 300 and 600 yards or just down in the pits?
Mike
The eTargets will be in the same carriers as the paper targets were in the past.
Brian Williams
Highpower Manager
Civilian Marksmanship Program
Hallelujah !!!!
Vintage Sniper as well?
Larry
Yes sir, Vintage Sniper too.
Brian Williams
Highpower Manager
Civilian Marksmanship Program
As a long-time CMP staff member, instructor and participant (and a retiree as of next week), I can honestly say the CMP is bringing a long-needed, accurate and shooter-friendly electronic target system to the National Matches. This system, provided by Kongsberg Target Systems (KTS) of Norway, has been put through the mill at our park in Talladega, Alabama, at Camp Perry and on the road in portable form at our travel games events across the country – something that KTS never imagined. At Talladega, the CMP installed 150 electronic targets (50 each at 200, 300 and 600 yards) on its 600-yard main range and let the American public shooter to put the targets through their paces starting about nine years ago. The park also installed them on its 100-yard open public range. Those targets and the travel targets took the most severe beating possible – shot-out sensors, wires and frames. I always joke that American shooters are suppressive-fire experts – the entire target and frame is in play. And yes, we have expert marksmen as well… Anyway, KTS worked with CMP to find ways to hide, protect and armor vulnerable target components to meet demands of the American shooter. The CMP is now in a position to provide a battle-tested system for the American marksman, from beginner to expert on the national stage. Its time has come. The young shooters of America deserve a super-accurate venue and the older shooters deserve a well-earned break from working in the target pits. Hopefully the days of rolling out to the range and pits before sun-up and finishing the day after dinner time are over. Kudos to my cohorts at the CMP for making this happen. The rifle target shooters of America have earned this treat… and the youngsters who shoot will still have time left in the day to have fun elsewhere.
Well said, Steve. And once again, CMP is showing its focus on the shooter/competitor!
And congrats on your retirement! I have thoroughly enjoyed mine so far…
Steve,
Could you share the “hardening” that the CMP has come up with? Our range, and I’m sure a number of other ranges, are also installing E-targets and have the same concern of equipment getting shot up. The CMP clearly has the most extensive testing (likely in the entire world) with these. It would be greatly appreciated if we could see pictures, drawings, dimensions, blue-prints, whatever, of the equipment used to protect the targets.
Ralph,
Majority of the target electronics for this system is below the berm this includes all the networking equipment, target board, and lower sensors. the only thing above the berm is 2 quick removable sound sensors and some quick removable audio cables similar to shot marker cables. This allows us to easily change shot sensors if that happens. since the introduction of the quick removable sensors I have only had to change two due to being shot. Cables that’s a different story but all depends on the event. Last year during the long range portion of nationals we did not have a single cable get hit, even in 35mph winds. The network infrastructure this year will have targets in banks of no more than 30 running off of shore power so no more worrying about batteries. KTS has done a lot of work to the monitor software to greatly improve the performance and hopefully greatly reduce the timer lag during rapid fire events. Hopefully this answers all your questions.
Hot Dog! Been waiting for this to happen! Faster matches and no sweating in pits. Will the monitors be assigned to individual shooters per match to eliminate problem with missing score cards and mathematical errors? Good Job!
Andy,
We are not there yet, but I do think that score cards will be a thing of the past soon!
Brian Williams
Highpower Manager
Civilian Marksmanship Program
What a wonderful improvement. The pit duty was quite a challenge hoisting the targets up and down.
We can save our energy for fun in and around the grounds at Camp Perry.
Thank you for making the matches a hit.
Will there be a need for both Viale and Rodriguez Ranges to be use?
Dan
Looks like we will be running 120 targets on Viale, and another 70 on Rodriguez.
Brian Williams
Highpower Manager
Civilian Marksmanship Program
Will you place each shooter on the same target throughout their participation? For example, during National Trophy Rifle Matches beginning with squadded practice through the NTI match?
George
With the sheer number of competitors, it is just not feasible to keep everyone on the same point for the entire event.
Brian Williams
Highpower Manager
Civilian Marksmanship Program
How many targets are going to be used?How much did it cost to do this upgrade?Will match fees remain the same?
Randy
We will be running 190 targets, on two ranges. The investment was significant, I can assure you that, and the match fees will remain unchanged this year.
Brian Williams
Highpower Manager
Civilian Marksmanship Program
The matches will run 50% faster, and less chance of injury’s by eliminating the pit duty.
I enjoy the instant feedback of the electronic scoring.
However, I will miss the animal crackers in the Vialli pits. 🙂
.
I will be shooting more events. Kudos to CMP
No need for squadding at 05:30 either.
That is outstanding! Thank you for all the efforts and work that was required to bring this to the greatest shooting match in the nation.
Will this become to Pistol Nationals?
Larry,
At this time, we will not implement eTargets for Pistol.
Thank you,
Christine
My aging back and broken T11 vertebrae thanks you. I was considering bowing out of some matches this year till I read this. Thank you.
Fantastic!
Are the KTS targets 4 sensors?
Rick,
Yes, we have 4 microphones in each corner and it is a closed system. See our video at https://youtu.be/6jwaoJtgezo?si=u6zqTGxqHENZMys1.
Thanks,
Christine
This is great news
Fantastic news. That will really speed up the matches