What to bring to Rifle Small Arms Firing School?

I'm enrolled in the Rifle Small Arms Firing School tomorrow. Other than the obvious (ear pro, eye pro, etc), what should I bring (ie, lunch, water, etc)?

Thanks

here is a email I sent to a bunch of my buddies that are coming with me to SAFS tomorrow.

Hopefully this will help...

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Camp Perry is coming up this weekend, so I will try to cover as many things as possible to make sure we all have a comfortable and fun time.

First of all, getting there.

Camp Perry is located right off of highway 2 about 10 miles south of Port Clinton. Once you drive right in front of the big nuclear power plant, it is about 6 more miles on you left. You will see railroad tracks and two "towers". Make a left and drive between the two towers that look like these:



Here are the google maps directions to where you need to park:

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=detroit,+mi&daddr=41.530595,-83.020259+to:1000+Lawrence+Rd,+Port+Clinton,+Ohio+43452+(Civilian+Marksmanship+Program)&hl=en&ll=41.561903,-83.062992&spn=0.097617,0.222645&sll=41.536948,-83.020549&sspn=0.024414,0.055661&geocode=FSPthQIdhtIM-yl1HcsQAcokiDHSxLk1ToZ2Vw%3BFeO0eQIdHTYN-ykJmkcmxrE7iDH5ghUydJUuhA%3BFQrpeQIdtDoN-yHx35HWZ8ZPtg&mra=ls&via=1&z=13

Address to put into the GPS is 1000 Lawrence Rd, Port Clinton, Ohio 43452, but make sure to turn left at Niagra road (between the towers). The GPS might want you to turn into the industrial complex before it, but it does not connect to Camp Perry.

Drive straight into Camp Perry. Go to almost the end just past the static military tank and helicopter displays. You should see a CMP building/banner on the right and you should see people lined up for registration. Park on the left in the parking lot and get in line and register. See the attached map:




Bring a pen/pencil. Be prepared for a hour wait in line. We are all beginner/first timers. Make sure they put you in the beginner/first timer classes/groups.

Plan to arrive on Friday for registration. The earlier, the better. If would fail to register by 8:00pm, your slot will be given away. I will try to get there in the late afternoon. This gives me time to register, get the huts, clean the huts, get the air conditioners set up, get some dinner and go shopping a the local Wal-Mart for Gatorade/sandwiches/snacks for Saturday.

Saturday morning we need to be in class (Hough Auditorium) at either 7:00 or 7:30am.
We will be in class till about 10:00am then they will send us out to the range on hay wagons.

I am taking to the range:
A small cooler for Gatorades and sandwiches/snacks. We will be out there all day until dinnertime. You need to stay hydrated. They have big sports team water coolers and Dixie cups for water as well.

A backpack to hold all of my papers, books, sun block, scoring sheets, pencils, pens, cheapie dollar store rain parka, in case it rains (no shelter).

Sun block. You will be outside, in the sun, all day with no shelter, unless you bring an umbrella or something else. Staying hydrated is key. Every year, someone passes out from too much sun. Let's not have that be one of us. My dad made it through just fine last year.

A light camp chair to sit in, while you are waiting to shoot. We don’t all need chairs, since half of the time you will be either shooting or pulling targets in pits. I will try to bring two.

A swimsuit in case we go swimming in the lake, they have a beach.

There are about 150 firing line spots. They will group us 4, or 5 people on a single firing line. It would be good to pair up with a buddy and go on the same firing point. All of us should try to get on firing points close to each other.
2 of us will go to the target pits, to pull targets and the remaining will either shoot, or keep score. You switch after a couple of turns.

They will let us take a lunch break, but you do not have much time, since the firing line is pretty far. We usually eat our sandwiches on the firing line.

Around 4/5 o'clock the shooting will stop and you can get dinner. They have a mess hall on the base that is open for breakfast/dinner. It is like a high school cafeteria, 5 or 6 bucks for all you can eat, and they have a good selection. You can also go off base, into town to eat or we can bring a portable grill/habachi and grill out by the huts.

They also have competitor row, where high end gun and shooting supply companies set up temporary stores to browse and shop in. You need to definitely check these out. Very high end stuff.
You can also buy guns like M1 Garands directly from the CMP in the CMP store.

Saturday, we will learn safety, how to operate and shoot the M16 and we will shoot a practice match.

Sunday, we will be out on the range at either 7 or 7:30 and we will shoot a real match and have the opportunity to earn real match series points. Everyone gets a certificate and hat pin. If you get into the top 10% you get a big medallion and official match points..
We should be done by 2:00 on Sunday.

The Huts:
The huts we are staying in are concrete floor shingled, "sheds". They have power/lights, but no water. We can put air conditioners in the windows. I have one, if we need another, we can get it at Walmart. There are 4 cots in each hut with a bare mattress. You need to bring mattress covers, sheets, pillows and pillow covers. There is pretty nice public bathhouse/shower house real close.

What the huts look like (These are the older huts, we should be able to get the newer remodeled huts.)
http://www.illinoishighpower.org/general_highpower_info/camp_perry_bunks.htm

You can bring bigger coolers for in the huts.

Awesome, thanks! What's the traffic like geting in there on Saturday morning? I signed up late and didn't feel like paying the high prices for a local hotel, so my hotel is in Fremont (about 15 miles south).

No traffic to worry about. It is relatively early in the morning when you are on the road and many will be staying on grounds. I stayed at the holiday inn about 10 miles north across from Wal-Mart two years ago and there was no traffic to worry about.

Stay hydrated it is a great time!

Double post, please delete

Bring your shooting coat, mat, and scope and a lunch. Don't forget sunscreen, water. A hat is a good idea. Don't be bashfull on the firing line; tell your coach what you're struggling with position-wise.

Roy

See if this is any help too. This is some generic Camp Perry wisdom from Jim Owen's pages.

http://www.jarheadtop.com/articles_CampPerry.htm

http://www.jarheadtop.com/articles_EquipList.htm

Safe Travels.

I checked in and found out I'm not allowed to enter the match at the end if the course because I'm in the Army Reserve. They offered to refund my $45, but I already spent $200 on the hotel. FML.

I am surprised that you cant just shoot in the match.

Now you are right you wont get any leg points from it.

Did you receive any Marksmanship support from the military? If not, then change your status to Civilian.

B

That was the first thing I asked, "Can I shoot and not get points?" but was told no.



I'm here on my own. While I could probably show up in civvies and get away with it, I would consider it cheating and against the Army values.

It wasn't a total loss, though. I met some members of the Army Reserve team. In addition, I also met the members of my Command team and was invited to try-outs in September.

Now that I have the afternoon off, I think I'll go visit Put-in-Bay.

Do what you want, but it's not cheating.

B

Von Landstuhl is correct. As per AR 350-66

3–2. National matches and National Trophy matches
a. Rules and regulations as approved by the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearm Safety
(CPRPFS) govern participation in the National Trophy matches.
b. Active Army and RC personnel may not enter EIC matches in the civilian category.


Soldiers are required to enter under the military category if they recieve support or not.

I stand corrected. I might be thinking of the NRA championship. I remember a few years ago that there were a number of Solders that shot NRA Matches that specifically opted out of training with their team or marksmanship support to participate with NRA match rifles. This was before the Joint Services Agreement became defunct so maybe 10~12 years ago.

I think it's a huge mistake to not allow Service personnel to shoot it. I understand why the big teams don't allow is as they are the instructors, but someone that is their of their dime, on their leave/vacation should be able to get some quality KD range time.

B

I couldn't agree more. As a non-sponsored Reservist, I shoot 55 rounds twice a year while on duty: 15 to zero and 40 at pop-up targets. How does that disqualify me for competitions?

It's one thing if Uncle Sam is paying your way to Perry and giving you all kinds of stuff, it's another thing if you are there on your dime and leave.

I do remember though when I was coaching (close to 20 years ago) having some NG from somewhere come through as students. I'm not sure why they tap all service members to be helpers/coaches. Makes no sense.

B

I just checked the results page and there were 4 people from the Army Reserve listed. This blows.

Here is my surprised face.

B

I emailed the CMP last night and received the following response this morning:

"I am sorry you did not compete in the M16 match. Military may compete in the match after they have confirmed and checked in with AMU to see if anymore coaches are needed. If AMU has enough coaches then you may compete in the match. Anyone in the Army, ARNG or USAR are not eligible for the 4 point leg points that are issued in the match. There are a few National Guard individuals that participated in the match. They are only listed in the overall results and have been removed from M16 EIC Match Results for issuing EIC points. The Army does not recognize the M16 match held during SAFS and will not except the points. The Army has it own introductory point matches for Army only. Again I do apologize the information provided to you was not clear."

That is what I have been told in the past and why I was so surprised above.

I have competed in that match and enjoyed it....No points given although high enough to be earned. No medal given either which kinda blew.

I worked the match as well which is also fun.

I wish this hadnt happened to you. I wish they had been clearer.

Dont let it sour you to much it sucks when some eecks through at the beginning and shoots a high enough score to earn points to leg, and then is told, nope we cant do it. I am damn sure it happens more often than not. I saw the pain on the CMP staffs face when they had to explain this once. I am sure they are trying to avoid that at all costs.

Don't worry, it's not like they have had over a hundred years to figure this out. Oh wait, never mind.


B

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