Western CMP Games Outdoor Rifle Events Return to Arizona in March
By Ashley Brugnone, CMP Writer
PHOENIX, Ariz. – After a small break in 2019, the annual Western Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Travel Games is back for another set of marksmanship events at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. The week-long series of recreational vintage and modern rifle competitions is set to be held March 13-22 and is open to competitors of all ages and experience levels.
The Western Games lineup is comprised of CMP Games matches like the Garand, Springfield, Vintage Military, Modern Military, Rimfire Sporter, Carbine and Vintage Sniper matches as well as a series of CMP Highpower (HP) Rifle Matches, which include three days of 80 Shot Aggregate competitions, a 4-Man Team event and a Service Rifle EIC Match.
For beginners and enthusiasts wanting to sharpen their marksmanship skills, a Rifle Marksmanship 101 class will also give participants insight into the fundamentals of safety and competition shooting. Participants work one-on-one with experienced CMP Rifle Master Instructors for classroom and hands-on training. Rifles and ammunition will be provided for the class. At the conclusion of training, students in the school will fire in a true M16 EIC Match, observed by instructors on the line.
A CMP HP Clinic, conducted by experienced instructors, will be held for those wanting a closer, more detailed look at the sport. The clinic will include training that utilizes live-fire education on the firing line. Additionally, the scheduled M1 Maintenance Clinic is the perfect place to learn more about the inner workings of the classic rifle and ways to ensure its preservation.
Competitors at Ben Avery will have the opportunity to fire on CMP’s highpower electronic target system. The targets are programmed with precision software and equipped with an LED monitor beside each competitor on the firing line that instanstly displays shot scores, eliminating the need for scoring pit duty that lengthen most rifle matches. Shorter competition days allowed by the electronic targets present more opportunities to fire additional relays for those who want to prolong the fun and alleviate the physical daily wear on competitors.
Match equipment and memorabilia will be available for purchase during the Western Games event. Be sure to check out the on-site store as early as possible, as items tend to sell quickly!
Trained CMP staff members will be present at all times to ensure safety and a great experience for all who attend the event. Join us for a week of competition, new experiences and fun!
More information about the Western CMP Games and registration forms can be found by on the CMP website at https://thecmp.org/cmp-matches/western-cmp-highpower-cmp-games-matches/.