M1 Carbine Match Features Separate Class Overlooked By Competitors
June 22, 2017
By Ashley Brugnone, CMP Writer
The Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) M1 Carbine Match has become a favored event amongst competitors over the last decade. Featuring the Carbine rifle issued to soldiers during World War II as a lighter version of the M1 Garand, these delicate rifles have the reputation of being a distinctive and enjoyable challenge for competitors, young and old. Hundreds of participants enter the match each year, but most are unaware of the secondary class that is offered during the event.
The Carbine Match features As-Issued Carbines that must be U.S. M1 or M1A1 chambers for .30 caliber cartridges issued by the U.S. Armed Forces and manufactured by Inland, IBM, Irwin-Pedersen, National Postal Meter, Quality Hardware, Rock-Ola, Saginaw Steering Gear, Standard Products, Underwood or Winchester. But a fact that many don’t realize about the Carbine Match is that it is also open to Commercial Carbines – that is, those made by other manufacturers of the same legal type and caliber permitted by the match program.
Those firing rifles that qualify for the Commercial Carbine will compete in a class all of their own, separate from the As-Issued crowd. If there are at least five competitors in the Commercial Carbine competition, a plaque is given to the overall winner. With enough competitors, there are even opportunities for other awards to be given within the Commercial Carbine match, including High Junior, High Senior and High Grand Senior.
The Commercial Carbine competition was added to the M1 Carbine event in 2014 at an attempt to open the match to even more interested competitors who may not own one of the specified manufactured rifles. Since its installation, the Commercial Class has slowly grown each year, with even more room for expansion in 2017. Offering the chance for a little extra fun, the smaller class size gives competitors a tighter competition with family and friends and a greater opportunity for earned awards.
The M1 Carbine Match is not only fired at the National Matches at Camp Perry in Ohio, but also at other CMP Travel Games events throughout the year – held annually in North Carolina (Eastern Games), Oklahoma (Oklahoma Games), Vermont (New England Games) and Arizona (Western Games), as well as the Games Matches held at CMP’s Talladega Marksmanship Park in Alabama.
If you own a M1 Carbine that fits the Commercial Class, consider signing up for a match! Not only will you be able to fire in one of the CMP’s most popular events of the year, you’ll get the chance to meet other enthusiasts and see their rare and carefully refurbished rifles as well. Registration is open for the National M1 Carbine Match held at Camp Perry on Thursday, July 20th.
About the M1 Carbine Match:
The M1 Carbine Match was first introduced to the National Matches early in the 1950s before taking a hiatus for several decades – finally returning to the lineup in 2006. Since then, it has become a preferred fun match for competitors that offers a unique challenge that can only be offered by the M1 Carbine rifle.
The match is fired entirely at 100 yards and features 10 shots each from prone, prone from standing, sitting/kneeling from standing and standing positions. A sighting time of 10 minutes is also permitted, with a maximum of 10 shots before record fire begins.
Christine, Another question please.
Re. the M1 Carbine Match; are the Targets pulled into the Pits like other Matches, or scored after firing ?
Thanks, IAC.
IAC,
For the Carbine Match, you will post all targets downrange and fire the match (no pit duty). Once the match is complete, you will go down and retrieve and score your neighbors targets. Here’s a photo of the targets downrange – https://CMP1.zenfolio.com/p845273498/e3de7fb1.
Thanks,
Christine
Can M1 Carbines be borrowed/signed-out for the Match ?
Unfortunately, we do not rent rifles for matches.
Christine
I used to shoot NRA high power matches.
My club, Fairfield Sportsman Association in Southern Ohio also had fun shoots. Then the lawyers got involved and shut everything down. I quit the club.
I would imagine that there are clubs that still exist that have NRA shoots or leagues?
Carl, Yes we have active clubs in Southern Ohio. I’ll have our Highpower Coordinator, Sara, email you with information.
Thanks,
Christine
I have a Rock Ole that I had to replace the stock on. I changed it to an(incorrect) folding paratrooper stock. Is it still okay for as-issued??
Chuck, I’ll forward your inquiry onto our Competitions Department and they will reply back via email.
Thanks,
Christine
I am interested in shooting the carbine match at Camp Perry this summer.
I am having great difficulty learning about this match. This site is 3 years old and its the best I can find.
Request you tell me everything I need to know about the carbine match.
Can I sign up the day of match or must I pre register?
Cost of match.?
Course of fire. Slow fire? Rapid fire? Rounds needed.?
And anything else that would be necessary or useful to participate in the carbine match?
Jim Christopher
James,
You will find everything you need to know on the Carbine Match in our National Match Rifle Program – https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_uM6kLBDEIhAtWYdIh16-Bc5gcVy3Rj0ts-aifR2Blg/edit. We recommend you pre-register at https://ct.thecmp.org/app/v1/index.php?do=match&task=edit&match=21041. The match is August 6th and adults are $45, juniors are $25. The CMP Games Rulebook will have the details on the match, including the course of fire – https://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/CMPGamesRules.pdf?vers=121720.
Thanks,
Christine
The page for the m1 carbine match only says as issued rifles are allowed. You might want to update that…
Thanks, we will get that updated. Christine
What target do they shoot at???
what are qualifying scores
The 200-yard SR target reduced for firing at 100 yards or the NRA SR-1 target is used for the M1 Carbine Match. M1 Carbine Match Achievement Medals/Pins: Gold – 355+, Silver – 340-354 and Bronze – 325-339. Everyone receives a match t-shirt during the National Matches.
Wow. I knew about the Garand events but didn’t know about the carbine event. I’ve shot the carbine a couple of times now really enjoy it. I’ll have to see when the next Camp Perry event is on.
And Ashley!!!! Thanks for all the good things you do for this program, too! Nice article!
Christine, Great article and indeed a great match! The Carbine is one of my favorite events. The carbine can be refined (to a degree) but always leaves an element of unpredictability, which makes the match very challenging and loads of fun. It is also noteworthy that the M1 carbine is an authorized rifle on the Garand 200 yard course. It is rarely seen in that competition, but the shooters who have tried it, usually have some interesting tales about its performance and how they adapted it for shooting 200 yards. Thanks for all the good things you do for this program!