Shooting Events

A sanctioned league is held at Zia on an ongoing basis. Matches are fired on the third Sunday of each month. Practices are fired on the first and third Saturdays. New shooters are encouraged to come out and observe a match or two before they attempt to fire. There are some basic skills, like pulling targets, that are much easier to learn when you can work with an experienced shooter than trying to do it on your own. We may be able to help answer equipment questions, too.

Rifles

There are two NRA defined classes of rifles: Service Rifles and Match Rifles. Both classes must use iron sights (telescopic sights are not allowed).

Service Rifles include the M1, M14 (or commercial equivalent), and the M16 (or commercial equivalent). Very little is allowed in the way of external modifications to a service rifle, but internally it's a different story. New triggers, match barrels, floating handguards,... are all allowed. Only minimal changes to the military sights are allowed (such as those found on "National Match" rifles: hooded rear aperatures, narrower front sight blades or posts, finer adjustments, and so on). Calibers are restricted to those issued by the military for the rifle. Since the military issued both calibers, the M1 may be used in either '30-06 or 7.62 NATO (essentially .308 Winchester). M14s must be 7.62 NATO and M16s (ie, AR15s) must be 5.56 NATO (.223 Remington). A military-type sling must be installed on the rifle for all stages. Only service rifles are allowed in "leg" matches sponsored by the Civilian Marksmanship Program.

Match Rifles are a much broader class. They range from bolt action rifles to "Space Guns" (often based on the AR15 lower receiver, but that's about where the similarity ends). Match rifles may use any type of metallic sights, so aperture front and rear sights are typical. Slings can be of more sophisticated designs, stocks can be fully adjustable, barrels can be longer, and such. Any caliber of sufficient power of .30 caliber or less can be used. .30 Carbine is not a good choice, but you'll see everything from .223 Remington and .308 Winchester to wildcats like 6mm-250. Match rifles must be able to load 5 rounds in the magazine at a time. Stripper clips are pretty much required to reload the second five rounds in bolt rifles for the rapid fire strings.

Course of Fire

Zia has a 600 yard highpower range, so we fire the full National Match course at 200, 300, and 600 yards. There's also a related, as yet unsanctioned, course of fire shot by the Centerfire Prone activity that fires a reduced Palma course at 300, 500, and 600 yards.

The National Match course of fire consists of the following:

• 200 Yards, Slow Fire, Offhand -- 20 rounds for record plus 2 sighters
• 200 Yards, Rapid Fire, Sitting -- 20 rounds for record plus 2 sighters
• 300 Yards, Rapid Fire, Prone -- 20 rounds for record plus 2 sighters
• 600 Yards, Slow Fire, Prone -- 20 rounds for record plus 2 sighters

22 minutes are allowed for each slow fire stage. The sitting rapid fire stage is fired with a 2 minute period for sighters, followed by 60 seconds each for two strings of ten rounds each, starting from the standing position. The prone rapid fire stage is similar to sitting, except 70 seconds is allowed for each ten round string.

Service rifle clips or magazines will be loaded two rounds in the first and eight rounds in the second. Match rifles must load five and five. One reload is required for each string.

At all Zia matches and practices shooters are required to pull targets in addition to shooting. Fixed targets are used at the City Range.

Other Equipment

There are some other pieces of equipment that are needed for this sport. First, you'll need a telescope (binoculars could be used in a pinch) to see the target at these relatively long ranges. 600 yards is just over 1/3 of a mile! You probably won't be able to see the bullet holes in the target, but you won't need to: for each of the sighter and slow fire shots the target is pulled and marked. A 3" spotter will be placed in the target at the point of impact, and a value disk will be placed at the periphery of the target frame indicating the score. These aren't too hard to see unassisted at 200 yards, but they get pretty hard to spot beyond that. Rapid fire strings are scored in a similar fashion, but only after each string (not after each shot).

While not an absolute requirement, you'll find a shooting coat and a mat to be very useful. Most shooters have a stool in which to collect all their gear for convenience. Eye and ear protection are strongly suggested.

Come out to a match or practice to get some information on equipment if you're new to highpower rifle competition.