Pit personnel prepare to raise and disk a high power rifle target. Target frames areusually 6 ft. x 6 ft. portable wood frames covered with Osnaburg target cloth (similarto heavy cheesecloth). Targets are attached to the Osnaburg with paste.

COMPETITIvEhigh power rifle shoot-ing is a sport in which individuals

fire center-fire rifles outdoors at bulls-eye targets.

A typical high power rifle range isequipped with wood target frames onvertically sliding mechanisms set in pitsat the various required distances. Thesliding mechanisms allow the frames tobe raised above the pit to firing positionand lowered into the pit for spottingand changing. Frames measuring 6 ft. x6 ft. may be used at ranges of 200 to1000 yds., and are spaced 12 ft. apart,center-to-center. This provides a clear-ance of 6 ft. between target frames.Frames of 6 ft. x 10 ft. may be used atthe 1000-yd. range. Spacing of 15 ft.center-to-center provides 5-ft. clearancebetween frames.

Two basic types of targets are used-military and NRA decimal. These typesare different in the point values assignedto the various scoring rings and in thedistances between the various scoringrings. The table on the facing page liststargets used at ranges from 1000" to1000 yds.

At short ranges (1000" to 100 yds.)targets are usually pasted or stapled tomaterial such as cardboard and at-tached to fixed target frames with clips.

22

Target pits are not generally used forthis type of shooting.

At other distances (200 yds. to 1000yds.) targets are attached to woodframes covered with Osnaburg cloth(similar to heavy cheesecloth). Thetargets are pasted on with wide wall-paper brushes, using a water and flourpaste mixture. Pasting targets on helpsto prevent wind damage.

A target is replaced by pasting a newone over the old one. The new targetcan be put on after each course of fireor after several courses of fire-de-pending upon the proper use of thetarget pasters.

The majority of shot holes will bein the center area of the target, causingthis area to become tattered and satu-rated with target pasters. Then the sur-face should be cleared of loose pastersand re-covered with a new target.

For the larger-sized targets, targetrepair centers are available. These cen-ters are smaller than the complete tar-gets (generally including only the scor-ing circles of higher value) and easierto handle, and they cost less. Therefore,these targets may be repaired a numberof times with repair centers beforecompletely new targets are needed.

During competition it is the option of

HighPowerRifleTargetsAndScoring

the shooter, or his team captain, torequest a new target or repair centerif it is believed that the target is un-serviceable. This request for a freshtarget or center has to be made duringthe preparation period prior to firing.

A range officer on the firing line hasover-all command of the range. Directlybehind each shooter a scorer recordsnecessary match data and scores on atarget marking board. In the pit, a pitofficer controls the pit personnel, whichincludes one or more individuals han-dling each target.

In slow-fire competition a shooterfires one shot at the target, and the tar-get is lowered into the pit where thebullet hole is marked with a target spot-ter. The target then is raised to its origi-nal position above the pit for the shooterto observe the location of the hit. Thevalue of the hit is signaled to the firingline with a scoring disk.

In rapid-fire the target is not loweredinto the pit until all required roundsare fired. Then the hits are spotted, thetarget is raised, and the hits are diskedin the order of highest to lowest value.

Before the holes are marked withtarget spotters, any holes of doubtfulvalue are plugged by a scoring gauge.

(Text continued on page 24)

THE AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

200-Yd. Target (A-21).

200-Yd. Target (C-2).

300-Yd. Target (C-4).

Army A 1000" Target.

MAY 1964

33

Target A. (Target B is propor-tional to Target A.)

Target C.

High power rifle competitors on the firing line at Camp Perry, Ohio. Immediately inback of each shooter is a scorer and target marking board. Target pit personnel relaythe score to the scorer by placing or waving colored disks on specific portions of thetarget. The scorer calls each score out to the firer and then writes it on the markingboard with chalk. At the end of the match the score is transferred to an official score cardwhich the competitor signs. This becomes the official score record.

MILITARY TARGETSTie'

Targel Over'AII High Value· low Value Breaking BlackDisiance Designation Dimensions Ring & Size Ring & Size Ring & Size Area

1000" At BYz"x12" 5-1·1,6// 2~953-i4" x 62~" 5200 & 300 yds. A 48"x73" 5 12" 3-36" V-4"2 5500 & 600 yds. B 72"x73'1 5-20" 3-60" V-12" 51000 yds. C 73"x120" 5-36" 3-6 square It. ' V-20" 5

NRA DECIMAL TARGETSTie'

Target Over·All High Value low Value Breaking BlackDistance Designation Dimensions Ring & Size Ring & Size Ring & Sile Area

A·14 Single Bullseye (Paper) 14"x14" ~100 yds. A-IS Single8ullseye(Tagboard) 14"x14" 10-2" 5-12" X-I" 8,9,10

A·25 Three Bullseyes s 14"x42"A-21 Paper Target' 21"x24" ~

200 yds. A-22 Target Center 14"x14" 1a-4" 6-20" X-2" 8,9,10A-28 Tagboard Target 21"x24/1 ,C-2 Paper Target s 27%"x27%" } 10-2.399" 1-23.999" X-1.l99" 5,69:i~200 yds. A-29 Target Center'C·4 Paper Target 40"x40" 10-6" 5-36" X-3" 9,10300 yds. C·5 Target Center lS"x15"A·3D Paper Target» 36/1x36" 1a-3.599" 1-35.999" X-1.799" 5,6,7,8, j

300 yds. A·31 Target Center' 2S"x2S" 9,10 '

300 meters C·I Paper Target' 36"x48" 1a-3.937" 1-39.370" X-1.968" 5,6,7,8,9,10

500 yds. C·6 Paper Target Ia-IO" 5-60" X 5" 9,10600 yds. C·7 Paper Target 10-12" 5 72" X-6" 9,10

t U. S. Air Force uses Rille Target 50· Yd. S8-A. • Same as lOO·Yd. Smallbore Rille Target.'V·ring was 6" in diameter until 1958. Pre·1958 targets will • Same as 200·Yd. Small bore Rille Target.

continue to be used until supply is exhausted. e Reduced 300·Meter Int'ITarget.a 2·ring (2 It. x 6 It. oblong) on each side 01 target is not 7 Official International Shooting Union Target.

used olten because most target frames are 6 It. x 6 It.

23

IOO-Yd.Target (A-25).

A scoring gauge is a spindle that has anexactly-measured flange. When it is in-serted in the bullet hole, the highest ringtouched by the flange counts.

The target spotter, a round piece ofpasteboard on a wood spindle, is whiteon one side and black on the other. Ifthe bullet hole is within the black area,the spotter is inserted so the white sideis visible; if the bullet hole is outsidethe black area, the spotter is inserted sothe black side is visible. After the sec-ond shot in slow-fire, the spotter ismoved to the new bullet hole, and thefirst hole is covered by a %" -widegummed and waterproofed target paster.

The scoring disk consists of 2 paintedmetal disks, one attached to each end ofa wood staff. One disk is painted whiteon one side and red on the other. Onedisk is painted black on one side andwhite with a black cross on the other.

Regulations on targets and scoring, in-cluding ties and tie-breaking, are given inthe NRA High Power Rifle Rule Book.

24

v

5

@ I tI II II IIT I

3

I t @I II II It

MISS

Scoringdisk and its use in scoringNRAdecimal targets.

X-the white disk is waved across the faceof the bullseye.

10-the white disk is placed over the bulls-eye.

S-the red disk is placed over the bulls-eye.

S-the black and white cross disk is placedjust below the bullseye.

7-the black disk is placed just below thebullseye.

6-the black and white cross disk is wavedacross the face of the bullseye.

5-the black disk is waved across the faceof the bullseye.

4, 3, 2, 1-a series of numbered paddleswill be displayedfrom the pit.

Miss-the red flag is waved across the faceof the bullseye. .

After the firer completes the match,the scorer copies the scores from thetarget marking board onto an officialscore card. The competitor checks thesescores and signs the score card, whichthen becomes the official record. Allscore cards are totaled in the statisticaloffice where the eventual winners of thematch are determined.

Besides the NRA High Power RifleRule Book, other sources of informationon targets, ranges, and procedures in-clude Air Force Manual 50-25 "SmallArms Ranges" (available from Superin-tendent of Documents, GovernmentPrinting Office, Washington, D. C.20402, for $1.25) and the NRA HighPower Rifle Range Plans.

NRA Headquarters will supply onrequest a list of targets and firms li-censed to manufacture and sell NRAOfficial targets, and also a DCM PriceList, which gives the stock number,description, price, and source of mili-tary targets.

Scoringmilitary targets.V-the white disk is waved across the face

of the bullseye.5-the white disk is placed over the bulls-

eye.4-the red disk is placed in front of the

upper right hand corner of the target.3-the red disk is placed in front of the

upper left hand corner of the target.Miss-the red flag is waved across the face

of the target. •

THE AMERICAN RI FlEMAN

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