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 Parrot and Rifle
Courses of Fire:
+ High Power
+ Smallbore
+ Air Rifle


    - Courses of Fire -
  • High Power   [top]
    Rifles to be used in High Power Rifle competition must be equipped with metallic sights (Some long range, 1000-yard matches allow the use of "any sights"), should be capable of holding at least 5 rounds of ammunition and should be adapted to rapid reloading. Tournament programs often group competitions into two divisions, Service Rifle and Match Rifle. The rifles currently used in the club are Bushmaster DCM and equivalent match rifles.
    Stage of Fire (modified NRA course):

    Stage 1: 20 shots for score, standing, single feed, SR1 target, 20 minutes.
    Stage 2: 10 shots for score, sitting from standing, SR1 target, 60 seconds, with magazine change.
    Stage 3: 10 shots for score, prone from standing, SR21 target, 70 seconds, with magazine change.
    Stage 4: 10 shots for score, prone, single feed, MR31 target, 10 minutes.
    Match: Aggregate of stages 1, 2, 3 and 4. 50 shots total.
  • Smallbore   [top]
    In the .22 caliber rifle event, sometimes called free rifle, three different shooting positions are used: prone, kneeling, and standing. The most stable position and the one which produces the highest scores is prone. In prone, the shooter lies flat and supports the rifle with both arms, the elbows of which are firmly placed on the ground. A leather sling attached to the rifle and one arm provides most of the rifle's support.
    The second position is kneeling, where the shooter sits on one foot and rests the elbow of the arm supporting the rifle on one knee. A sling is also used in this position. The most challenging position is standing (or offhand), where the back of the arm supporting the rifle is rested against the side of the rib cage. A sling may not be used, and the skeletal frame must provide all of the support given the rifle.

    Several different courses of fire are used in collegiate competition depending on the level of competition, the facilities available, and the number of shooters. The most common "full course" consists of 40 shots in each position. Prone takes a maximum of 43 minutes; kneeling, 63 minutes; and standing, 83 minutes. Half courses and quarter courses are sometimes held with proportionally abbreviated time limits. When contested at 50 feet, the usual collegiate distance, one shot is fired per record bullseye on targets having ten such bullseyes. At the 50 meter distance, used in the Olympics and many other competitions, either one or five shots are fired per bullseye.

    Rifle shooting requires a good deal of auxiliary equipment. The shooter wears a leather shooting jacket over two sweatshirts. This helps hold the gun steady and isolates it from one's heartbeat. Similar shooting pants are also worn. A padded glove is worn on the hand supporting the rifle, and special boots are often worn to provide ankle support. A padded mat is needed to lie on, a special stand or tripod is used to hold ammunition and to rest the rifle on between shots in offhand, a telescope is used to view one's shots during the competition, and other accessories make the shooter's task easier.

    The rifle used must meet the regulations for a "free" rifle which impose few restrictions. Typically, men use free rifles which weigh about 15 pounds and have many adjustments and accessories. Standard rifles have been the firearms of choice for most women because they were recently restricted to using them in international competitions and they are somewhat easier to handle, weighing only 11 pounds. The rules have now been changed so that women can use a light (~14.3 lbs.) free rifle called a "sporting rifle" in international competition, so there will soon be more women using this type of rifle. Standard rifles have fewer adjustments than sporting rifles and are more difficult to fit to each particular individual.

  • Air Rifle   [top]
    The air rifles used must meet the standard rifle restrictions noted above and the courses of fire are the same as those for air pistol (i.e., either 40 or 60 shots fired slow fire in 1hr., 15 min., or 1hr., 45 min. respectively). Also, as with air pistol, the pellets are propelled by either compressed air or CO2. Firing is from the standing position at 10 meters.
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