Packing for Cody

[kraigWY]

For the CMP GSM Wyoming Games (Garand and Vintage Sniper Match) and Garand Collectors Assn. Convention (Meaning a special tour of the Cody Museum). Confirmed the 300 yard zero on my 'A4 and know my come ups to 600. Didn't worry about the Garand, it's zero hasn't changed since I got it over 30 years ago.

Checked the balance on my Credit card because CMP is bringing Garand's and ammo (don't know what else) for sale, so I have to be ready. Got to be ready incase I find something I can't live without. Probably get another Garand just so I can say I bought something.

 

[Ucsspirit]

This makes me wish I was home right now, Lovell WY. I need to get a Garand to round out the M1 collection.

 

[shoot4fun]

Shot the Industry Masters in Cody back in June. I have to say that the folks there really know how to roll out the red carpet for shooters. The special tour of the Cody Museum, Old Town Cody and other notable sites was very interesting. I have to complement the range facility too. I had a great time shooting there and they kept everything running smoothly.
Enjoy the trip!!

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Craig:

How'd it go?

I love Cody and the museum... that's where I want to retire. For me, Cody/Wyoming is Disney World, if Charlton Heston ran Disney World! If you haven't been, the Dug Gun museum is a hoot.

Great town in a great state!

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[Wireman134]

Cody was cool. But they didn't have any Jap T99 Snipers.

 

[Mike Radford]

Cody was cool. But they didn't have any Jap T99 Snipers.

The Japanese snipers are quite capable but currently no replica rifle or replica scope is available and allowed under CMP rules. I have long said this is unjust and unfair. The rules are very much in favor of other replicas like the A4 and 03A1 USMC snipers. They represent the majority of the the competitors and therefore dominate. They allow the K4 to be used on the K98 and the Enfield but not on a Japanese rifle.

Using a Japanese sniper in the matches requires that you use an original scope worth $1500-3500. Since less than 1% of all Japanese snipers have their matching optics which they were zeroed for, the process to zero one requires considerable knowledge and disassembly of the scope. There are very few who have that ability and who will take the responsibility to do this.

There is a mount that has been made for both of the common Japanese sniper bases. It is no longer made but could be. Using a Weaver K4 on such a mount would make for a competitive rifle and allow more of a balance in the CMP VS matches. The fact that this has not been addressed is totally wrong. What are the officials afraid of by allowing these rifles in the matches? Many think there is a strong US rifle bias. I say if US rifles are better let them prove it by allowing more internationally represented competition. It makes the matches more interesting and more fair. JMHO.

 

[kraigWY]

It was a switch, normally the 1903a4/M1941 dominate the VS Matches. M1D's won the Cody Match.

I did pretty good with my home made M1903a4, didn't have a partner when I showed up, found a guy from MO in the same boat so we partnered up. We got a bronze.

My Garand Match sucked big time. The rifle was great in Prone SF and RF, but really sucked offhand. Maybe because I'm too lazy to get off my butt and dry fire.

You would not believe how efficient the CMP is when it comes to running matches. I don't see how they could have been any better. The CMP Staff were excellent.

Weather was a tad warm but not too bad, almost zero wind.

46 shooters for the VS match, about 60 for the Garand match, not bad turn out for Wyoming.

I got my Dist. Rifle Badge under the DCM. I maxed out in points about 18 months before I got my badge. As a comparison, after the award ceremony I went back to my trailer, (about 200 yards from the CMP Set up. I fired up my Iphone and found the CMP already had the results posted on their website.

Cost me $15 per night to camp on the range. A bit different then camping down town or staying in a Motel. I tried to get reservations but they said I didn't need them. Turns out I didn't. I was the only one camping there. Nice to be able to walk back to an air conditioned trailer after shooting in the sun. Rained the last couple nights but my trailer doesn't leak.

 

[Mike Radford]

Thanks for the report Kraig. I love Cody and the museum. I know of a great motel there for about $65 a night. Most are much worse and more expensive. Last trip there they gave me and the lady a pass to the museum to use too. Hope to be back in WY in a week.

 

[ScharfshutzeK98]

Couldn't agree more Mike!

The Japanese snipers are quite capable but currently no replica rifle or replica scope is available and allowed under CMP rules. I have long said this is unjust and unfair. The rules are very much in favor of other replicas like the A4 and 03A1 USMC snipers. They represent the majority of the the competitors and therefore dominate. They allow the K4 to be used on the K98 and the Enfield but not on a Japanese rifle.

Using a Japanese sniper in the matches requires that you use an original scope worth $1500-3500. Since less than 1% of all Japanese snipers have their matching optics which they were zeroed for, the process to zero one requires considerable knowledge and disassembly of the scope. There are very few who have that ability and who will take the responsibility to do this.

There is a mount that has been made for both of the common Japanese sniper bases. It is no longer made but could be. Using a Weaver K4 on such a mount would make for a competitive rifle and allow more of a balance in the CMP VS matches. The fact that this has not been addressed is totally wrong. What are the officials afraid of by allowing these rifles in the matches? Many think there is a strong US rifle bias. I say if US rifles are better let them prove it by allowing more internationally represented competition. It makes the matches more interesting and more fair. JMHO.

 

[kraigWY]

In keeping within the spirit of the game, vintage sniper scopes are regulated to the gun they were used on. As to the Weaver K 2.5, Weaver couldn't produce the numbers required by the army so the civilian Weavers were used on the 'A4s and that's why the K2.5 are allowed.

If you can document that the K 2.5s were used on the Jap rifles, you can send them to the CMP Rules committee and they will add them to the list. However I never heard of the Japanese government using K 2.5s on there sniper rifles.

The reasoning is not to see who can piece together the best rifle, (we have precision rifle for that) but to compete with the rifles used up to and through the Korean war.

I really don't believe the CMP made the rules to keep the Jap rifles from winning. If they were that good, they would be out shooting the Springfield's in the GSM matches, they aren't.

 

[mrbungle]

very cool. so replica scopes on an enfield T are not allowed? it has to be an original scope? or all original? like bracket too.

 

[kraigWY]

Original or replica of the original. Same with the mounts.

The scopes for the "T" are original or replicas of:

Enfield #3 Mark 1, or Pattern 1914 T, or P14 T are: M1918 Aldis, Periscope Prism scope, Win A5, William Malcolm 3X

Enfield Mark 4 T: No 32 (M32 Variants, non issued but used, Lyman Alaskan, Weaver K2.5 or K3

If you read Ian Skennerton's book "The British Sniper, British & Commonwealth Sniping and Equipment 1915-1983, it gives a good account of the sniping systems used.

There have been additions to the CMP List of authorized systems added since the program started. They were added because people provided the rules committee with legitimate evidence other systems were used.

Interesting reading in these old sniper books. What worked and want didn't.

 

[Joop]

I wonder who provided info that the Germans used the Weaver K4, then?

 

[Mike Radford]

I wonder who provided info that the Germans used the Weaver K4, then?

Exactly. The K4 can be used on the British rifles as well as the German rifles, unless they recently changed that. There are replica mounts that are approved for about anything but the Japanese snipers.

There will not be much finding out if the Japanese rifles can compete unless the K4 and a replica mount is allowed for them. A few originals are occasionally used but not many. Not a lot of ammo choices, especially match, in 6.5 and 7.7 Japanese either.

I do not think there is much chance of a K4 outclassing an original Zeiss or Ajax or an 8x Unertl.