Competition Rulebooks

CMP Competition Rulebooks that will govern CMP sponsored and sanctioned competitions in 2025 have now been approved by the CMP Board’s Rules Committee. All rulebooks are posted below so you can download your copies. 

The CMP competitions program began in 1996 with only two disciplines, Service Rifle and Service Pistol.  CMP competitions have now grown to include separate disciplines for Service Rifle, Service Pistol, .22 Rimfire Pistol, Service Revolver, As-Issued Military Rifle (Garand, Springfield, Vintage Military Rifle, M1 Carbine, Modern Military Rifle, Vintage Sniper Rifle), As-Issued Pistol (M9, M1911, M&P Service Pistol) and Rimfire Sporter Rifle competitions where the CMP is the national governing body.  The CMP also issues rules for Match Pistol (3-gun pistol), Long-Range and Mid-Range Rifle, Smallbore Rifle (position and prone), Air Rifle, and Air Pistol to govern events it conducts in conjunction with the National Matches, CMP Competition Games, and other match sanctioning programs.

Check the rulebooks that govern the disciplines you shoot to see this year’s changes. All changes are displayed in red, underlined text.

CMP Competition Rulebooks

• CMP Air Rifle and Air Pistol Competition Rules (2025) 4th Edition – Click here to download PDF
  • 2025 Air Rifle and Air Pistol Changes
  • Range Officer Commands for Air Rifle/Air Pistol
    • 20-Shot Stages on Paper Targets
    • 60-Shot Events on Electronic Targets or Ranges with Target Carriers
    • Finals on Electronic Targets
      
• CMP Action Pistol Competition Rules (2025) 3rd Edition – Click here to download PDF
  • Action Pistol Safety Rules and Procedures and Range Commands
    
• CMP Smallbore Rifle Competition Rules (2025) 7th Edition – Click here to download PDF
  • 2025 Smallbore Rule Changes
  • Range Officer Commands for Smallbore Rifle
    • 20-Shot on Paper Targets
    • 60-Shot on Electronic Targets
    • Prone Final on Electronic Targets
    • 3-Position Final on Electronic Targets
      
• CMP Pistol Competition Rules (2025) 28th Edition – Click here to download PDF
  • 2025 Pistol Rule Changes
  • Range Officer Firing Procedures and Range Commands for Pistol
    • Pistol Firing Procedures and Commands
    • 50-Yard Slow-Fire & 25-Yard Timed/Rapid-Fire Stage Commands
      
• CMP Highpower Rifle Competition Rules (2025) 28th Edition – Click here to download PDF
  • 2025 Highpower Rule Changes
  • Range Officer Firing Procedures and Range Commands for Highpower Rifle
    • Highpower Rifle Firing Procedures
    • CMP National Trophy Event Slow-Fire and Rapid-Fire Commands
    • CMP Cup Match Event Slow-Fire and Rapid-Fire Commands
    • Highpower Rifle Target Procedures
      
• CMP Games Competition Rules for Rifle and Pistol (2025) 12th Edition – Click here to download PDF
  • 2025 Games Rule Changes
  • Guidelines for Preparing Vintage Sniper Rifles that Comply with Class B Vietnam Era Sniper Rifle Rules (Rule G6.2.1)
  • Range Officer Firing Procedures and Range Commands for CMP Games
    • General Firing Procedures and Definitions
    • CMP Games Slow-Fire and Rapid-Fire Procedures and Commands (For Range Officers to use in conducting all As-Issued Military Rifle (Garand, Springfield), Vintage Military Rifle, Carbine and Modern Military Rifle Matches).
    • CMP Games Rifle Pit Procedures (For Target officers to use in operating target pits during all As-Issued Military Rifle (Garand, Springfield), Vintage Military Rifle, Carbine, and Modern Military Rifle Matches).
    • M14 Heritage Match Firing Procedures (For Range Officers to use in conducting M14 Heritage Match Firing Procedures).
    • Vintage Sniper Rifle Firing Procedures (For Range Officers and Target Officers to use in conducting Vintage Sniper Rifle Team Matches on Ranges with Pit-Operated Targets).
    • Vintage Sniper Rifle Firing Procedures (For Range Officers to use in conducting Vintage Sniper Rifle Team Matches on Ranges with Electronic Targets).
    • As-Issued / Military & Police Pistol Firing Procedures (For Range Officers to use in conducting CMP As-Issued Pistol Matches).
    • Rimfire Sporter Rifle Firing Procedures (For Range Officers to use in conducting Rimfire Sporter Matches on Paper Targets)
    • Rimfire Guide
      
• National Standard Three-Position Air Rifle Rules – Click here to download PDF

Rule Interpretations and Questions

The CMP staff can interpret unclear rules, but may not modify rules. The Programs Committee of the CPRPFS Board of Directors and its Rules Sub-Committee has the sole authority to modify CMP Competition Rules.

Questions about the CMP Competitions Rulebooks, rule recommendations or to obtain a clarification or interpretation of any CMP rule, please contact the CMP Competitions Department at [email protected] or (419) 635-2141, ext. 714 or 729.

For Action Pistol or Bulls-eye Pistol questions, please contact (419) 635-2141, ext. 729 or [email protected].

For Smallbore Rule questions, please contact (419) 635-2141, ext. 730 or [email protected].

For Air Rifle/Air Pistol questions, please contact ((419) 635-2141, ext. 702 or [email protected].