Anthony Kissik

CMP’s Junior Rifle Club for All Skill Levels Offered in Ohio, Alabama in 2025

By Ashley Dugan, CMP Staff Writer

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is set to host another session of its popular Junior Rifle Club – a weekly group that introduces firearm safety, marksmanship fundamentals, air rifle competition experience and life skills through fun instruction on the range!

Not only will the next session be set at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center in Ohio but also at the Judith Legerski CMP Competition Center in Alabama! Space is limited for this popular junior activity, so be sure to sign up early!

The 10-week Winter Session will begin Tuesday, Jan. 14, for Alabama and Tuesday, Jan. 28, for Ohio. An informational “Meet & Greet” meeting will also be held Jan. 7 (Alabama) and Jan. 21 (Ohio) for those interested in learning more before the session officially begins.

The Junior Rifle Club will be conducted every Tuesday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. EST and 4 to 6 p.m. CST. Fee to join is $50, with no prior experience necessary. The CMP will also loan equipment to those in need!

Participants in the club will not only learn about the sport of marksmanship but also character building proficiencies like discipline, self-control, goal setting and more – all with an emphasis on safety.

Each training session is led by former NCAA Division I rifle athletes. In Ohio, instructors include CMP Junior Rifle Camps manager Ryan Hinson, who was an athlete at Morehead State University, along with CMP program coordinator Alana Kelly, who was previously a member at the University of Mississippi.

If you’d like to become involved in the Junior Rifle Club or have questions and are unable to attend the Meet & Greet, please contact Ryan Hinson at [email protected] or call 419-635-2141 ext. 751 for Ohio or JT Schnering at [email protected] or (256) 835-8455 ext. 415 for Alabama.

Find more details and registration information on the CMP website at https://thecmp.org/cmp-junior-rifle-club/.

Additional Open Marksmanship Times. The Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from noon to 8 p.m. and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Outside the range doors, the facility features two Laser Shot simulators with hundreds of virtual courses to enjoy, along with authentic Olympic and other memorabilia from the career of celebrated American marksman, Gary Anderson. The center also includes a retail center for equipment and memorabilia needs.

Likewise, the Judith Legerski CMP Competition Center is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The facility is also home to the CMP South Store, filled with firearms and equipment for purchase, along with its own Laser Shot simulators.

The CMP Competition Centers are available for rent to local groups for meetings, conferences and more. Learn more about the CMP’s air gun competition centers at https://thecmp.org/ranges/cmp-competition-centers/.

Register Now for CMP’s 2024 Dixie Double Air Gun and Smallbore Event

By Ashley Dugan, CMP Staff Writer

ANNISTON, Ala. – Registration is now open for the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) Dixie Double air rifle and air pistol competition, set for Oct. 24-27, 2024, within the electronic air gun range of the Judith Legerski CMP Competition Center in Alabama!

The event features two days of 60 Shot international competitions for adults and juniors, along with a final to end each day. Additionally, a two-person (adult and junior pair) aggregate team match is held concurrently with the open competition. Overall competitors are awarded each individual day as well as from the combined, two-day aggregate scores.

One of the highest attended air gun events of the year, the Dixie Double attracts a variety of individuals from around the country, from Olympians and national-level athletes to beginners – serving as a learning opportunity for upcoming competitors as well as a worthwhile challenge for experienced marksmen and women. All events are designated as ranking matches with USA Shooting.

“The Dixie Double truly is a special event,” said JT Schnering, manager of the competition center. “I always encourage speaking to and learning from the best in the business. On October 24 through 27, the best will be in Anniston! We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back for another round of exciting competition.”

The 2024 Dixie Double will also feature the always-entertaining Target Sprint! During the fun event, participants run along a marked path, occasionally stopping to fire air rifles at five 10-meter falling targets – knocking all over before continuing the race. The first to cross the finish line wins!

Those looking for more outdoor competitive opportunities will have a chance to compete in the Dixie Double 3×20 smallbore match, set for Sunday, Oct. 27, at CMP’s Talladega Marksmanship Park – a short drive from the Judith Legerski CMP Competition Center. Like air gun, the smallbore event is open to juniors and adults and will be fired on CMP’s electronic target line.

Sign up now for one of the South’s most popular air gun competitions! For more information about the Dixie Double and to register, visit https://thecmp.org/cmp-matches/dixie-double/.

About the Judith Legerski CMP Competition Center: The Judith Legerski CMP Competition Center in Alabama is open each week, Monday through Thursday (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and every Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Located at 1470 Sentinel Drive, Anniston, the facility includes the CMP South Store, which is fully stocked with equipment and memorabilia needs, as well as a large common area for guests to enjoy – all available for rent! Learn more at https://thecmp.org/ranges/cmp-competition-centers/.

About Talladega Marksmanship Park: The 500 acres of Talladega Marksmanship Park accommodates rifle, pistol, shotgun and archery opportunities. The park Club House consists of 13,000 square feet of useable space and includes CMP’s Pro Shop, which is loaded with firearms, ammunition, shooting accessories and CMP memorabilia.The facility is open to the public all year long, Wednesday through Sunday. Learn more at https://thecmp.org/ranges/talladega-marksmanship-park/.

CMP Monthly Air Gun Match Competitions Resume in September

By Jennifer Green, CMP Contributor

After the busy National Matches this summer, the Monthly Match Air Gun Program is slated to return to CMP’s Competition Centers in Camp Perry, Ohio, and Anniston, Ala., with new fall dates.  

The Monthly Matches are open to anyone and offer a variety of events to compete in, including a 3×20 Junior/Adult Precision and Sporter Air Rifle Competition, a beginner 3×10 Air Rifle Competition and 60 Shot Standing Air Rifle and Air Pistol competition.  

There are six Monthly Matches during the year.  Three dates remain for 2024:

• September 14
• October 12
• November 16

The competitions are held in Ohio and Alabama at the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s state-of- the-art Competition Centers.  Each range features 80 electronic targets which offers the chance for CMP to run many of the competitions simultaneously.

The Monthly Match League offers awards and prize money to the top competitors who participate in at least four of the six matches.  The lowest two scores are dropped and the top four scores are combined to determine the overall winners.  Prize money will depend on the number of entries.  

For more information on the Monthly Matches and registration info, visit https://thecmp.org/ranges/cmp-competition-centers/monthly-air-rifle-and-air-pistol-matches/. Questions can be directed to Catherine Green at [email protected] or 419-635-2141 ext 704 (Ohio) and JT Schnering at [email protected] or 256-835-8455 ext 415 (Alabama).

About CMP Competition Centers:

The Judith Legerski CMP Competition Center in Alabama includes the CMP South Store, which is fully stocked with equipment and memorabilia needs. The Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center in Ohio features cases of authentic Olympic and other memorabilia from the career of celebrated American marksman, Gary Anderson, for observers to enjoy.

Each of CMP’s indoor air gun facilities holds an 80-point range, equipped with innovative electronic targets. The venues regularly host local, state and national competitions as well as Open Marksmanship, which allows visitors ages 8 and up with any experience level to test out air rifles or air pistols with the guidance of qualified CMP staff members.

To learn more, visit https://thecmp.org/ranges/cmp-competition-centers/.

First Paris 2024 Olympians for USA Shooting to be Selected in Anniston Alabama 

Courtesy of Brittany Nelson, USA Shooting PR and Communications Manager

USA Shooting’s air gun Olympic Trials part three, where the Paris 2024 Olympic Air Rifle and Pistol Team will be selected, is being held at the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Judith Legerski Competition Center in Anniston, Alabama, Jan. 5-7, 2024. 

Over 90 rifle and pistol athletes from across the country will be competing in the trials for their chance to be named to the 2024 Paris Olympic Team. The 2024 Games will be held this year in France July 26- Aug. 11. A maximum of two athletes in each event will be eligible for the Olympic team. 

See the schedule* below:

• Jan. 5 – Official Practice (all events) 9:00am-12:00pm

• Jan. 6 – Women’s Air Rifle & Pistol-8:45am-10:15am
  Men’s Air Rifle & Pistol- 10:45am-12:15pm

• Jan. 7 – Women’s Air Rifle & Pistol-7:45am-9:15am
  Men’s Air Rifle & Pistol- 9:45am-11:15am
  FINALS Men’s Air Rifle & Pistol- 11:45am
  FINALS Women’s Air Rifle & Pistol- 1:30pm

The competition is open to the public and free of charge. Live target images may be viewed online throughout the event at https://mllive.megalink.no/#!/cmp-south.

In order for USA Shooting to qualify for competition in an event at the Olympic games, an athlete must win a quota slot in the event. For Paris, USA Shooting currently has five out of the eight possible quotas for air gun. Although up to two athletes can be named to the Olympic team in each event, on Jan. 7 USA Shooting will name the Olympic team members in the following events:

• Women’s Air Pistol (2 athletes)
• Women’s Air Rifle (2 athletes)
• Men’s Air Rifle (1 athlete)

USA Shooting athletes will be competing in the 2024 Championship of the Americas Games this spring in the hopes of earning the remaining quotas needed for the Paris Games. USA Shooting athletes currently have a total of 18 Olympic quotas slots for Pairs and four Paralympic quotas. The remaining Olympic quotas include Men’s Air Pistol (2), Men’s Air Rifle (1), Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions (1), Men’s Rapid Fire (1), Women’s 25m Pistol (1). See the complete list of quotas earned here.

For more information about the event, contact Brittany Nelson at 210-861-9410 or [email protected]

*Schedule is subject to change

About USA Shooting

USA Shooting, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation was chartered by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the Olympic Shooting Sports in April 1995. The organization develops and implements programs to promote growth in the sport and serves as a sanctioning body for local and national competitions. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the US Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, USA Shooting has a full-time staff dedicated to our sport.

About CMP

The Civilian Marksmanship Program is a federally chartered 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. It is dedicated to firearm safety and marksmanship training and to the promotion of marksmanship competition for citizens of the United States. For more information about the CMP and its programs, log onto www.TheCMP.org.

Shirley, Welter Claim Wins at 2023 Gary Anderson Invitational

By Ashley Dugan, CMP Staff Writer

A total of 330 junior sporter and precision air rifle athletes arrived in Ohio and Alabama over the weekend of Dec. 1-2 to compete in the 2023 Gary Anderson Invitational – one of the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) most anticipated youth events of the year. Individuals from around the country participated in the three-position match, with Gary Anderson himself even in attendance to witness the budding talent on the firing line.

In sporter, Bethany Shirley, 17, of Monroe, GA, acquired a commanding lead with a score of 660.6 for the overall win – nearly 20 points over Brooklyn Zeigler, 16, of Gray, TN, who earned a score of 642.9 for second. Rounding out the top three was Brayden Rich, 16, of Winthrop Harbor, IL, with a score of 641.5.

Leading the precision class was Natalie Welter,14, of Parker, PA, with an overall score of 699.7. Following closely in second was Carley Seabrooke, 17, of Helena, AL, with an aggregate score of 698.3, as Jack Ogoreuc, 16, Grove City, PA, found a score of 697.4 for third.

Along with individual competitions, a four-person team event is also held during the event.

Leading teams of the 2023 Gary Anderson Invitational:

Precision:

1. American Legion Post 295 – 2348-156X
2. East Coweta – 2325-138X
3. Camden County High School Team A – 2323-131X

Sporter:

1. Zion Benton High School Team 1 – 2174-55X
2. Daniel Boone High School Sporter 1 – 2149-69X
3. Zion Benton High School Team 1 – 2140-54X

The Gary Anderson Invitational is held within the 80-point electronic air gun ranges at both the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center at Camp Perry, Ohio, and the Judith Legerski CMP Competition Center in Anniston, Ala. The junior sporter and precision air rifle competition includes kneeling, prone and standing positions for qualification scores as well as a 10-shot final fired by all athletes on the line. Winners are determined from scores at both locations.

Find a complete list of results of the 2023 Gary Anderson Invitational on the CMP’s website at https://ct.thecmp.org/GAI23Results.   

View and download free event photos from both locations at https://cmp1.zenfolio.com/f260916458.

About Gary Anderson: 

Mr. Anderson is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and holds seven world championships, six world records and 16 national championships. He has won more Olympic and world championship three-position titles than any other American in history. In 1999, Anderson began a 10-year reign as Director of Civilian Marksmanship and retired in December 2009. 

Today, Anderson serves as DCM Emeritus and remains a mentor for new and experienced, old and young shooters around the country through his articles and classes. Anderson’s advice is regularly featured in CMP’s junior magazine, On The Mark, and throughout the year during the clinics he leads at CMP events. In 2014, the CMP North Competition Center was renamed the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center, in honor of his years of dedication to the sport.

Over 100 Guests, New Products Connect at CMP’s Inaugural Premier Shooting Expo

By Ashley Dugan, CMP Staff Writer

TALLADEGA, Ala. – On Oct. 18, 2023, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) hosted its inaugural Premier Shooting Expo – an interactive event for vendors and consumers, set across the 500 acres of CMP’s Talladega Marksmanship Park in Alabama. 

Over 100 guests attended the Expo, where they were able to meet with 17 different marksmanship industry and non-industry retailers to test out the latest products first-hand. The Expo also included exclusive door prize opportunities for those in attendance and the chance to fire CMP’s own M1 Garand rifles and 1911 pistols.

“It was a great event, showcasing firearm vendors from across the country and showcasing the range,” said Greg Raines, CMP Chief Commercial Officer. “We’re already planning for the 2024 Expo, where we look to have triple the showing over the first year’s numbers.”

Some of today’s leading manufacturers attended the inaugural Premier Shooting Expo, including a long-time supporter of the CMP and its programs – GLOCK, Inc.

“I’ve always been a firm believer in putting our product in a person’s hands,” said GLOCK’s National Sales Manager, Bob Radecki. “To me, this is the best sales opportunity you can have – when you’re interacting directly with the consumer and you’re actually having the opportunity to show them your product, show them the benefits of your product and actually use it.”

As Radecki praised Talladega’s access to hotels and neighboring restaurants as well as its suitability for a dynamic event like the Expo, he thought back to his first visit to the park when the 600-yard electronic range was marked only by a lone piece of construction equipment on bare soil.

“We’ve been involved with the CMP at Talladega since before it was built,” Radecki joked.

GLOCK has kept a close relationship with the CMP over the years – holding multiple GLOCK Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) National Championships at Talladega and recently presenting a check to the park for $50,000.

“We have a very good working relationship with the CMP,” Radecki said. “The people that run the organization are easy to work with, and the facilities are outstanding.” 

Along a fleet of pistols like the G21, G47 and the G20 10mm, GLOCK brought representatives of the GSSF to the Premier Shooting Expo. The team encouraged guests to participate in one of the assembled stages of their GSSF matches within one of Talladega’s pistol bays – 10 rounds on GLOCK M-4 paper targets and a steel target, using a G47 with standard sights. Numerous visitors who had never fired in a GSSF match before took on the target setup, with GSSF experts nearby to ensure safety and to aid newcomers on the range.

“The GSSF is an outstanding way to get into competition,” Radecki explained. “It’s not overly complicated, so if you are a new shooter, it’s not overwhelming. It’s a good starting point.”

The top scoring participant in the GSSF stage at the Premier Expo won a GSSF life membership. The match demonstration was just one part of the crowning objective shared by everyone at Talladega that day – supporting safe and enjoyable marksmanship activities for all.

“I’d like to see more people come out,” Radecki went on about the CMP Premier Expo. “It’s an excellent opportunity to try before you buy. We have a plethora of manufacturers here, so you can shoot the GLOCKS, competitor handguns – it’s just a good opportunity to come out and have a nice day at the range where you can shoot a variety of things, and the cost is insignificant.”

A seasoned competitor in his own right, Radecki took the opportunity to try out other vendor displays for himself, like the revolvers available through Kimber Manufacturing.

Kimber is known for its high-end 1911s and ultra-light hunting rifles, but at the Premier Shooting Expo, the company exhibited some of its newest firearms including the KDS9c concealed-carry 15-round capacity pistol, along with other 9mm like the R7 MAKO and the K6S Target and new K6XS lightweight backup.

“It’s important that we connect with our core consumer. We value our core consumer – that’s the reason why we are where we are,” said Everett Deger, Marketing Director at Kimber Manufacturing. “Our preference is that people can get their hands on our products and test drive them, so to speak. That’s our philosophy.”

“I consider it essential,” he went on. “Especially when you select something as personal as a firearm. You can buy shoes online and return them, but firearms are a much more personal purchase.”

Kimber’s corporate headquarters is located in Troy, Ala. – only a short drive from CMP’s Talladega Marksmanship Park. According to Deger, the close proximity of the entities makes them natural partners in keeping marksmanship moving in a positive direction.

“The CMP is what I consider to be the anchor as far as firearm events and the civilian market,” he said. “We’re on the cusp of starting a more robust relationship.”

“This is probably the first known event that we’ve supported the CMP at this facility,” he added. “We supported the CMP earlier this year with presence at the Bianchi Cup, but we’re looking forward to a launch debut event at Talladega in early March 2024 for the brand overall.”

Other companies represented at the 2023 Premier Shooting Expo included Grizzly Ears (specializing in hearing protection for outdoor enthusiasts), Steyr Arms (another elite firearms retailer), Crosman Corporation (a principal manufacturer of air guns) and Volquartsen Firearms (an Iowa-based distributor of .22 rimfire products).

Like the vendors in attendance, consumers at the Expo hailed from Alabama and other areas of the country, including David Castle and Ronnie Davenport from Greenwood, S.C., who made a four-hour drive to Talladega.

“We wanted to come because it was the inaugural event,” Davenport said. 

“The CMP has got a nice facility here, and it’s well run,” Castle added.

The pair met through their own local club years ago and quickly discovered a kinship and mutual desire to travel to the Talladega Marksmanship Park. After participating in the inaugural rimfire sporter rifle match when the park opened in 2016, the men – lovers of wood guns, especially – now make the trip to Talladega together twice a year to attend the annual Talladega D-Day and Talladega 600 events held at the facility. 

Castle and Davenport spoke highly of the electronic targets located within Talladega, saying the shot placement monitors located at each firing point help them eliminate the need for a spotting scope. The use of the monitors allows participants to make quick adjustments without having to strain to see downrange.

“It makes you a better shooter,” Castle said.

The duo said they were happy to visit face-to-face with vendors at the Expo as well as the CMP personnel they’ve come to know over the years. They plan to return to next year’s Expo to see even more vendors around the park.

“We enjoyed it,” Davenport said. “And it’ll just get better and better.”

Sharing the same sentiments were Alabama locals Jim Barton and Ben Jackson of Birmingham. After finding out about the Expo through the CMP’s email newsletter, they knew they had to attend the event for themselves.

“We’re both interested in the shooting sports and target shooting and hunting and such, so we thought it was a neat idea to come out here for the first Expo and see who else showed up,” Jackson said. “And it turned out to be a beautiful day.”

Both Jackson and Barton have been visiting Talladega regularly since its opening, enjoying the variation and flexibility available through the park’s mix of rifle, pistol, archery and shotgun ranges. They also look forward to using the facility’s Unknown Distance Range on their next visit.

“I think it’s fantastic that a range of this quality, with this variety, is right here in Alabama,” Barton said.

They went on to commend the CMP for compiling its own Expo to bring together industry favorites as well as some lesser known manufacturers.

“It gives you the chance to meet and talk with a lot of people,” Jackson said. “I wasn’t familiar with some of the vendors that were here. It’s good to see.”

“And we’re eligible for door prizes,” he said with a smile. “It’s an added bonus.”

If you couldn’t make it to this year’s event, be sure to keep an eye on the CMP’s website and social media pages for updates on the next Premier Shooting Expo throughout the year! You can also find more info at https://thecmp.org/ranges/talladega-marksmanship-park/cmp-premier-shooting-expo/. Photos from the event are posted at https://cmp1.zenfolio.com/p147977056.