When I first signed up for the cmp games matches I had no idea how it worked. I asked lots of questions and did lots of reading. I’ve tried to make this post a “step by step” report of my experience hopefully others will find it helpful.

After the long 9 hour drive down the mind numbing straight line that is the PA then OH turnpike I finally arrived at Camp Perry. There wasn’t much going on weds afternoon when I pulled up to the marksmenship center, no waiting, ample parking.

Just stroll in and you’ll be given a paper to fill out your basic info for the base folks (license plate number, emergency contact) then you wait in line to be in processed where you will be given your score cards and some other basic info.

I didn’t realize this at the time so I went the next morning but if you get there the day before stop by the CMP trailer and get your trigger weighed. I never saw a line there but have been told it can take around an hour. It wasn’t clear to me if you “had to” or “should” get your trigger weighed as they didn’t seem to strict about it however if you make the cut off for a medal you wouldn’t want to be out of contention because of trigger weight.

Day of the match

I signed up for the PM matches squadding starts at 10 the AM matches Squad at 6.

For the vintage match on Friday they let folks squad right away. I walked up around 9 and was assigned right away.

For the Garand Match on Saturday they made us wait until 10 to squad so there was a long line.

Note R. Lee Ermey (in shorts) waits in line with everyone else.

So how does Squadding work? Good question, I had no idea but someone was nice enough to explain it to me. You’ll be given a matrix but it made 0 sense to me.

Here’s how it works. There are 4 relays you will be assigned to a relay and a firing position. In the example above, relay 1 shoots first while 2 scores. 3&4 are in the pits pulling targets together. Then 1&2 trade spots, after 2 is done 3&4 move to the line and 1&2 take their turn in the pit.

To stand on a soapbox for a bit if you don’t want to work the pits, or think you will be too tired out, either don’t shoot or arrange ahead of time to pay someone to take your place.

Working the pits works just like any other pit. With one notable exception is the lack an impact area to watch. In this case the impact area is Lake Erie. The targets are “closer” than they were at the York Riflemen match I attended earlier in the year and it wasn’t pouring so it wasn’t difficult to see the hole. My partner taught me to stand at an angle and listen for the “crack” of the bullet as I goes over your head. It will take a few shoots but you will quickly be able to tell if it was your shooter.

We had 3 stoppages while I was there for boats in the impact area. One time it stopped a rapid fire stage. Which was re-fired after we went hot. Many, including myself, learned the lesson to bring extra ammo.

There was a story going around the pits that someone on the AM relay Garand match on Viale stood on their stool when their shooter was done and looked over the pit wall towards the firing line. I’m not sure if this really happened and if it did what exactly he was trying to see but either way that’s a good way to get shot in the head by mistake. Don’t do that.

Some other odds an ends:

The shooters shuttle will take you around the camp. It’s a long walk to the assembly line on Viale even from a good parking spot.

Some pictures of the line

The porta-John line gets long during the pit change.

Check out the pier while you are there.

And stop in the north store and pick out a nice Garand or 6 while you are there.

The infamous Camp Perry huts

Stop by commercial row and max out a credit card or two.