High Power Rifle
High Power Rifle is a specific format of competitive shooting popular in the United States. It is many times referred to as "Across the Course" and sometimes as 'traditional' High Power. In service rifle matches, a competitor can only use an M-1 Garand style weapon, a M1A (M14) style weapon, or an AR-15 (M-16) style weapon. A post front sight is required for the service rifle category.
The standard course of fire for a service rifle match has four (4) individual stages that comprise an aggregate match.
1. Slow fire (10 shots in 10 minutes), standing at 200 yards
2. Rapid fire (10 shots in 60 seconds with reload), sitting or kneeling, at 200 yards
3. Rapid fire (10 shots in 70 seconds with reload), prone, at 300 yards
4. Slow fire (20 shots in 20 minutes), prone, at 600 yards
Starting in 2009, Civilian Marksmanship Matches still require the shooter to begin in the standing position then move into the sitting, kneeling, or prone positions to start their rapid fire. NRA competitions do not require the competitor to begin in the standing position.
This combines to a total aggregate of 50 shots worth 500 points. In addition to points, "X" count is also used to rank shooters in a match. In the center of each target (within the ten ring) is an "X" ring. If a competitor shoots within this ring they receive the ten points for shooting a ten, but an additional "X" which acts as a tie breaker. For example, if one competitor ends a match with 487-14X (meaning 487 points with 14 X's) and another shooter ends with 487-20X, then the one that shot 20 X's will finish ahead of the one which only shot 14 X's.
[edit] Growth of F-Class
F-Class is by far the fastest growing shooting sport. F-class is shot prone at distances of 300 to 1200 yards. Competitors may use almost any caliber rifle (up to .35 caliber), a scope, and a front and rear rest or bipod. F-class shooters use targets half the size of (and often shoot concurrently with) the world's long-range Palma shooters. F-class is an ideal sport for beginning competitive shooters, both male and female, young and old. See the High Power Rifle rulebook for more information on F-class competition.
