Took a vacation day yesterday and headed over to the CMP store and range with another ODT'er and had an amazing time.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program has some age on it. Started by Teddy Roosevelet in 1903 because he thought Americans should know how to shoot a firearm accurately and safely. That's my loose interpretation. Read more here: http://thecmp.org/about/
We left Atlanta around 6:30 to beat the traffic. Gain an hour heading over to Anniston AL but there were two people in line 30 minutes before opening. By the time they opened at 8am local time there were another seven folks behind us. Folks were in line from Florida and Kentucky.
Nice selection of Garands and carbines. Picked one with a ME of 2 and TE of 2+ for $630. Had a replacement stock and barrel but a late WWII receiver. They had a bunch of M1D's for two G. A little too rich for me. Carbines were reparked and were running $900.
So about the buying process: You need proof of residency. DL is not acceptable I didn't have proof but was able to get my lovely wife to take a pic of my passport at the house and text it to me. Also need a club affiliation. I had to join the Garand Collectors Association for $25. And then you need some kind of proof of firearms training. They took my GWL, not sure if that was copacetic or not. Bottom line, read the website before you go I almost came away empty-handed.
They asked me if I wanted it shipped or take with me. I wanted to take it to the CMP range but sales tax runs 10% in Alabama. Free shipping. Let's see, I can save myself $63 by having them ship TO MY HOUSE. Yeah, I'm cheap like that. Besides, I already had a Garand to shoot for the day. They said I should receive it on Tuesday. Can't wait.
Lots of friendly knowledgeable folks at the CMP store! Renay was a sweet heart and she was the one who saved me the $63. I'm taking doughnuts next time I go.
So we loaded up and headed over to the new CMP range just below the Talladega Raceway. Stunning facility. Paid our twenty bucks and sat in on a safety briefing and away we went to the 100yd range.
I took my K31, Garand, and VEPR in 7.62x54R. Only the VEPR had glass.
The ranges have electronic monitors for seeing your hits so you never have to go down range. Uses Konsberg (sp?) acoustic technology or some such alien technology.
I was stringing the K31 as I struggled with my sight picture. This gun was built in 1933 and is still more accurate than I will ever be.
Garand has a peep sight and is a little more consistent. I wish I was. A flyer. There's always that ONE flyer!
Here's what the shooting benches and monitors look like. Oh and nice heavy rubber shooting blocks are a nice touch.
Nice facilities. The bathrooms over behind the 100yd range are air conditioned.
We moved over to the range behind the main building. It has targets at 200, 300, and 600 yds. I've never shot over 300m (Army wepons qual) so I shot some at 200 and asked the 600 target to be raised.
I was happy just to get shots on paper at that range with iron sights. Finally got on paper with the VEPR (dang Russian scopes) but I was tired at that point or so is my excuse.
So, in summary, had a great time yesterday! Got a new toy and finally shot over 300yds for the first time. The CMP range is truly world class. Top notch people and facilities.
Wish it wasn't so far away. Or maybe that's a good thing. I'd REALLY be ammo broke if it was closer.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program has some age on it. Started by Teddy Roosevelet in 1903 because he thought Americans should know how to shoot a firearm accurately and safely. That's my loose interpretation. Read more here: http://thecmp.org/about/
We left Atlanta around 6:30 to beat the traffic. Gain an hour heading over to Anniston AL but there were two people in line 30 minutes before opening. By the time they opened at 8am local time there were another seven folks behind us. Folks were in line from Florida and Kentucky.
Nice selection of Garands and carbines. Picked one with a ME of 2 and TE of 2+ for $630. Had a replacement stock and barrel but a late WWII receiver. They had a bunch of M1D's for two G. A little too rich for me. Carbines were reparked and were running $900.
So about the buying process: You need proof of residency. DL is not acceptable I didn't have proof but was able to get my lovely wife to take a pic of my passport at the house and text it to me. Also need a club affiliation. I had to join the Garand Collectors Association for $25. And then you need some kind of proof of firearms training. They took my GWL, not sure if that was copacetic or not. Bottom line, read the website before you go I almost came away empty-handed.
They asked me if I wanted it shipped or take with me. I wanted to take it to the CMP range but sales tax runs 10% in Alabama. Free shipping. Let's see, I can save myself $63 by having them ship TO MY HOUSE. Yeah, I'm cheap like that. Besides, I already had a Garand to shoot for the day. They said I should receive it on Tuesday. Can't wait.
Lots of friendly knowledgeable folks at the CMP store! Renay was a sweet heart and she was the one who saved me the $63. I'm taking doughnuts next time I go.
So we loaded up and headed over to the new CMP range just below the Talladega Raceway. Stunning facility. Paid our twenty bucks and sat in on a safety briefing and away we went to the 100yd range.
I took my K31, Garand, and VEPR in 7.62x54R. Only the VEPR had glass.
The ranges have electronic monitors for seeing your hits so you never have to go down range. Uses Konsberg (sp?) acoustic technology or some such alien technology.
I was stringing the K31 as I struggled with my sight picture. This gun was built in 1933 and is still more accurate than I will ever be.
Garand has a peep sight and is a little more consistent. I wish I was. A flyer. There's always that ONE flyer!
Here's what the shooting benches and monitors look like. Oh and nice heavy rubber shooting blocks are a nice touch.
Nice facilities. The bathrooms over behind the 100yd range are air conditioned.
We moved over to the range behind the main building. It has targets at 200, 300, and 600 yds. I've never shot over 300m (Army wepons qual) so I shot some at 200 and asked the 600 target to be raised.
I was happy just to get shots on paper at that range with iron sights. Finally got on paper with the VEPR (dang Russian scopes) but I was tired at that point or so is my excuse.
So, in summary, had a great time yesterday! Got a new toy and finally shot over 300yds for the first time. The CMP range is truly world class. Top notch people and facilities.
Wish it wasn't so far away. Or maybe that's a good thing. I'd REALLY be ammo broke if it was closer.
