NATIONAL RIMFIRE SPORTER RIFLE MATCH

Civilian Marksmanship Program▸National Matches▸NATIONAL RIMFIRE SPORTER RIFLE MATCH

The Rimfire Match will be fired on electronic targets at Petrarca Range and offers shooters a recreation-oriented competition where they use smallbore sporter rifles (plinking and small game rifles) commonly owned by almost all gun enthusiasts. This is a unique match where all that’s needed to compete is a rifle and ammo. Participants must fire with standard sporter-type rimfire rifles that weigh no more than 7 ½ pounds.

INFORMATION LINKS

The CMP Rimfire Sporter Matches has been the first time I have used the eTargets and scoring. Absolutely loved the application of technology for this year’s Rimfire as well as the upcoming Garand, Springfield, Vintage Bolt Action and the M1 Carbine matches. I’ve been pulling Pit Duty since 1982 and although all of us made the most of flying dirt clods and greasy target carriers, I’m glad that at least at Camp Perry, it’s a thing of memories. Shout out to all of the CMP Staff, the OHIO National Guard and Volunteers for your outstanding performance and support. As a Retired Combat Veteran, I appreciate the logistics and hard work you all place into making these matches happen. I also would like to recognize the Food Truck (Strawberry Cow) that provided excellent burgers for the Rimfire Matches. Great Stuff! – Jeffrey K., July 2025

Rifles may be manually operated or semi-automatic; competitors with manually operated actions are given extra time in rapid-fire to compensate for the difference. There will be the standard “O Class” for open-sighted rifles, “T-Class” for telescope sighted rifles, “TU Class” for tactical unlimited rifles and “M-Class” for (Military Trainers) for U.S Training rifles. Firing is done at 50 and 25 yards on a target with a 1.78″ ten-ring and an 18″ outer one-ring. The target is simple enough for a beginner to hit, yet challenging enough that only one competitor in the history of the match has ever fired a perfect 600×600 score.

As stated, the overall weight of any Rimfire Sporter rifle, including sights, may not exceed 7.5 lbs. Slings may be removed for weighing, but T-Class and TU-Class rifles must be weighed with sights attached. Rifles with removable clips must be weighed with one clip. External or internal weights may be added to the barrel or stock as long as the overall weight of the rifle, with sights, does not exceed 7.5 lbs. External weights may be added to the barrel only and must be concentric in shape.

The Rimfire Sporter course of fire is challenging. New competitors are able to successfully complete it while the more experienced find it uniquely challenging. Participants begin at 50 yards with a sighting or practice series and then shoot 10 shots for record slow-fire in the prone position, followed by two, five-shot rapid-fire series. This is followed by 10 shots slow fire and two, five-shot rapid-fire series in the sitting or kneeling position. Targets are then placed at the 25-yard line where competitors conclude with 10 shots slow fire and two, five-shot rapid-fire series in the standing position.

Competitors must supply their own good quality, safe ammunition for this match. Competitors will need a total of 60 rounds to fire the Rimfire Sporter Match plus any sighters or range alibis.

CMP Rimfire Sporter Clinic with live fire will have classroom instruction as well as on the range training. This class will be taught by CMP Instructors. 

If you have questions regarding the Rimfire Sporter Match, please contact Amy Cantu, [email protected], (419) 635-2141, ext. 602.

RESOURCES

SPONSORS

While CMP policy prohibits endorsement of any company product or service, we would like to recognize the following companies that will award their own separate products to the top shooters of the National Rimfire Matches.

CLICK HERE to view our National Rimfire Sporter Match Sponsors.

To become a sponsor, please visit the CMP Sponsorship web page for details.

Sam Payne is the only competitor to fire a perfect 600×600 score. He stands in front of his flawless Rimfire targets.