CMP Rimfire Sporter is designed to allow the average shooter to experience competitive rifle shooting without the expense of a target rifle and a lot of equipment. Rimfire sporter combines elements of both smallbore and high power rifle, with both precision slow fire and rapid fire stages and all of the basic positions.

The rules for the traditional sporter class allow most .22 Long Rifle “sporter” rifles. The rifle must weigh less than 7½ pounds including sights/scope and the trigger pull must be no less than three pounds. Sights can be of almost any type, including traditional scopes, “red dot”, open, or aperture (scopes must be set to 6 power or less). Action types are not limited, though single-shot rifles are not practical for the rapid-fire stages. A basic sling that is no more than 1¼” wide can be used, and does not count toward the weight limit. Thumbhole stocks, pistol grips, adjustable cheekpieces, and adjustable sling swivels are not allowed.

Tactical rimfire rifles meet the trigger and overall weight requirements of the traditional sporter class but have the general configuration of modern military rifles such as AR-15/M16.

“Unlimited” rifles do not meet the requirements for either sporter or tactical sporter rifles but are welcomed at our matches. The scores will not be reported to the CMP and no award pins will be given.

No special equipment is needed. Special shooting clothing is not allowed; the shooter may wear at most two sweatshirts, though in cold weather we will allow appropriate winter clothing. A regular work glove is allowed for the supporting hand, but padded or shooting gloves are not allowed. We strongly recommend using a sling that is designed for target shooting – a standard military web sling is acceptable and available from the CMP or many online dealers. A mat or other protection from the hard ground is nice to have.

Rimfire sporter matches are composed of ten shots slow fire and ten shots rapid fire in each of three positions: offhand, sitting or kneeling, and prone. Rapid fire consists of two strings of five shots fired in 25 seconds (30 seconds for manually-operated rifles) and begins from standing (prone and sitting rapid fire strings begin with the shooters standing; when the command to fire is given, the shooters get into the shooting position and begin firing). Prone and sitting/kneeling are fired from 50 yards and offhand is fired from 25 yards. A match requires about 70 rounds of ammunition (60 shots plus sighters). All stages use the CMP rimfire sporter target which is an NRA B-19 pistol target with a white aiming dot in the center.

The CMP requires that all participants shooting in a CMP sanctioned match have a waiver on file with the host club (in our case, us). Go to the links on the right to print one. Click here for the adult waiver; click here for the junior form.

For more information, see The CMP Guide To Rimfire Sporter Shooting. Be sure to check the rules before purchasing a rifle or equipment for this match.

CMP Games Rimfire Sporter Rifle News

For more information contact match director John Jebavy at: john.e.jebavy@jebavy.net