CMP Announces the Early Release of Four 2026 Competition Rulebooks

December 1, 2025

Civilian Marksmanship Program▸The First Shot▸CMP Announces the Early Release of Four 2026 Competition Rulebooks

By Gary Anderson, DCM Emeritus

Four rulebooks that will govern CMP Highpower Rifle, CMP Games, Bullseye Pistol and Action Pistol competitions in 2026 have been updated and approved by the CMP Rules Sub-Committee.  These four rulebooks are being released on the 1^st of December, one month before they will take effect on the 1^st of January.  This early release will give competitors and match sponsors in those disciplines a head start on preparing for their next competition year. 

The following 2026 rulebooks are now posted on the CMP website:

• 29^th Edition 2026 CMP Highpower Rifle Competition Rules.
• 29^th Edition 2026 CMP Bullseye Pistol Competition Rules. 
• 13^th Edition 2026 CMP Games Rifle and Pistol Competition Rules.
• 4^th Edition 2026 CMP Action Pistol Competition Rules.

Copies of these new rulebooks can be downloaded from the CMP “Competition Rulebooks” webpage athttps://thecmp.org/competitions/cmp-competitions-rulebooks/.  When you open this “Competition Rulebooks” webpage, the listings of downloadable documents will include the 2026 rulebooks, lists of changes in each 2026 rulebook, and the Range Officer scripts that are to be followed to conduct matches governed by those rulebooks.

Smallbore Rifle and Air Gun Rulebooks Delayed.  The completion of two 2026 CMP rulebooks is being delayed while the shooting world awaits final decisions from the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) regarding major proposals to change rifle clothing and rifle 3-position finals.  The rulebooks that potentially will be affected by these proposals are:

• 8^th Edition 2026 CMP Smallbore Rifle Competition Rules.
• 4^th Edition 2026 CMP Air Rifle and Air Pistol Competition Rules. 

The CMP Smallbore Rifle Position and Air Rifle and Air Pistol Rulebooks are closely aligned with ISSF Rules because most competitors in those events also compete in USA Shooting competitions that are governed by ISSF Rules.  Some of the best athletes in these events also qualify for USA National Teams that compete in ISSF Championships, so it is essential that the CMP, USA Shooting and ISSF Rules for these disciplines be closely aligned.

The ISSF is currently considering significant changes in its rifle clothing rules that could require competitors in Rifle and Air Rifle events to modify their shooting jackets and trousers.  If those changes are adopted, the CMP must decide whether to adopt those changes and if it does, how to enforce them.  The ISSF is also considering changing its three-position finals to one-position finals.  This proposal could potentially also impact Junior Three-Position Air Rifle where three-position finals are widely used and have become popular.  The problem is that certain clothing manufacturers have learned how to evade clothing stiffness rules so that rifle standing scores, in particular, are looking more like prone scores.

An ISSF decision on these issues likely will not come until later in December.  Since an ISSF decision to adopt either of these proposals could significantly impact CMP Smallbore Rifle Position and Air Rifle Rules, the CMP will delay finalizing those two rulebooks until we know what the ISSF is going to do.  Because of this, these two rulebooks may not be available until after the first of the year. 

CHANGES IN 2026 RULEBOOKS.  The four CMP rulebooks that are being released now contain some important changes that may impact your 2026 competition plans.  Here are some of the most significant 2026 rule changes.

Two National Trophy Pistol Team Matches (BULLSEYE PISTOL).  Two of the most important trophies awarded during the National Trophy Pistol Team Match are the Gold Cup Trophy, which goes to the overall team winner and the Oglethorpe Trophy, which goes to the highest scoring state or club team.  State or Club teams are residency restricted while the winning Gold Cup teams are so-called open teams.  For years some of the top civilian competitors have wanted to be allowed to form industry or open teams that could challenge the military teams.  CMP rule makers were reluctant to authorize open civilian teams because of the high likelihood that this would degrade the Oglethorpe Trophy state and club team competition if top civilian competitors left those teams to join industry or open teams.  In an effort to find a solution to this dilemma, there will be two National Trophy Pistol Team Matches in 2026.  The National Trophy Gold Cup Team Match will allow open military and open civilian teams.  The second team event, named after the Oglethorpe Trophy, will be for residency restricted civilian open, Law Enforcement and Junior Teams.  This means civilian competitors will be able to shoot in both pistol team matches.  They can shoot with an industry or open team in the Gold Cup event and with a state of club team in the Oglethorpe Trophy event.

New F-Practical F-Class Category (HIGHPOWER RIFLE).  The 2026 CMP Highpower Rifle rulebook introduces a new F-Practical F-Class Category that is limited to factory production rifles and equipment.  Cartridges cannot exceed .308 in bullet diameter; “magnums” will not be allowed.  Rifles may not weigh more than 14.0 pounds and must have a minimum trigger pull of 2.0 pounds.  Optics are limited to 16X.  Total retail cost of a competitor’s rifle and equipment is limited to $3,000.  This new category will be offered in all CMP Mid- and Long-Range Matches.  Clubs are encouraged to include it in their sanctioned matches.

Highpower Rifle Scoring (HIGHPOWER RIFLE).  Several years ago, the CMP adopted the highpower rifle scoring protocol being used by the NRA.  This scoring protocol calls for scoring highpower rifle targets according to the size of the bullet being used by each competitor.  This meant that competitors with AR-Type rifles had their shots scored with a .223” gauge while competitors firing M14-Type rifles had their shots scores with a larger .308” gauge.  The scoring advantage competitors shooting .30 cal. rifles had was small.  They effectively had scoring rings that were 0.0425 larger.  Over the course of a 50-, 80- or 100-shot Highpower Rifle Match one or two shots are likely to fall in that zone.  Starting in 2026, electronic targets used in CMP Highpower Rifle events will have the same sized scoring rings.  Electronic targets, of course, score to the center of the shot hole, not the outside edge, so those targets will now assume that all shots were fired with a 7.62mm/.308” bullet to determine precise scoring ring sizes.  All shots fired on paper targets will be scored with a uniform .308 in. scoring gauge so it will be necessary for match sponsors to have .308 scoring gauges with .223” spindles.

National Trophy Match New Shooter Rule (HIGHPOWER RIFLE & BULLSEYE PISTOL).  National Trophy teams will get a break if they have two or more new shooters on their National Trophy Teams.  They must designate one of them as their new shooters.  Any other new shooters retain their new shooter eligibility.

New Action Pistol Distinguished Badge (ACTION PISTOL).  The CMP will be adding a 12^th Distinguished Badge to its Distinguished Badge Program in 2026.  A new Action Pistol EIC (Excellence-in-Competition) program encompassing the Bianchi Cup Championship and designated other CMP-sanctioned EIC matches where competitors can earn EIC credit points has been established.  This program will enable competitors to earn EIC credit points that count towards the 30 points that are required to award Distinguished Badges.  Complete regulations governing the conduct of EIC matches and the awarding of the new Action Pistol Distinguished Badges are in the 2026 CMP Action Pistol Competition Rules.

4-Point Legs in As-Issued Garand, Springfield and M1911 Matches (CMP GAMES).  The CMP program that awards 4-point legs to the top 10 percent of competitors with no previous EIC points in the Small Arms Firing Schools and CMP Marksmanship 101 courses has successfully started several Service Rifle and Service Pistol competitors on their quests to earn the Distinguished Rifleman and Distinguished Pistol Shot Badges.  In 2026, that program will be expanded to include the As-Issued John C Garand, Springfield Rifle and M1911 Pistol Matches “conducted by the CMP.” 

CMP Achievement Awards (CMP GAMES).  The cut scores for awarding the popular CMP gold, silver and bronze Achievement Medals and Pins (Appendix A in the CMP Games Rulebook) are evaluated every year, based on scores fired in National Matches events.  Updated cut scores for this long list of CMP Games events are listed in Appendix A at the end of the 2026 CMP Games Rules.  Interestingly, cut scores in most events actually went down this year. 

At-Large Teams (HIGHPOWER RIFLE, BULLSEYE PISTOL).  The new rules for both Highpower Rifle and Bullseye Pistol changed “Out-of-Competition” teams to “At-Large” teams.  This rule is used extensively in the National Trophy Rifle and Pistol Team Matches to allow teams that could not comply with strict eligibility requirements to be able to still shoot in the match even when they could not win awards. To give some status to these teams, the name was changed to “At-Large” and the possibility of giving awards has been added.

Suppressors and Silencers (HIGHPOWER RIFLE). The use of silencers or suppressors is already widespread in some shooting sports disciplines.  Their use is promoted as a means of reducing range noise levels and mitigating the possibility of hearing loss.  The CMP has taken its initial steps in approving suppressors for use in CMP Matches.  In 2026, competitors in most F-Class categories (F-TR, F-O, AR Tactical) will be allowed to shoot with suppressors. 

Any competitor or match sponsor who has questions or comments about any aspect of the 2026 CMP competition rules is encouraged to contact the CMP competitions staff.  Contact information for the different shooting disciplines is the front of each rulebook.

The CMP wishes all competitors, match officials, and match sponsors a rewarding and successful 2026 shooting season.