Frequently Asked Questions Questions 1. What is High Power? 2. What firearms can I use? 3. What different types of competition are there? 4. Where can I learn more? 5. What is the highest level of competition? 6. Where can I shoot? 7. Where can I buy equipment? 8. What kind of rifle should I buy? 9. What kind of ammunition should I use? 10. Where can I direct further questions? Answers 1. High Power is a competitive shooting sport involving the engaging of targets at 100 or 200, 300 and 600 yards from the standing, sitting and prone positions with a center-fire rifle with metallic sights. On a full course, you engage a target from the standing position at 200 yards with one minute per shot for ten or twenty shots. You load one round at a time. This is refered to as "slow fire." Next, you engage a target from the sitting position at 200 yards with six seconds per shot. You either shoot one or two strings of ten shots each. To do this you load one magazine with two rounds and another with eight. You shoot the two rounds, reload, and then shoot the other eight. This is refered to as "rapid fire." After firing both of these stages, you move back to the 300 yard line. At 300, you shoot prone rapid fire. It is the same as sitting, except you get seven seconds per shot. After shooting at 300, you move back to 600. At 600, you shoot prone slow fire. It is 20 shots in 20 minutes from the prone position. High Power can also be shot on a 100 yard range. The stages of fire are the same but the targets are reduced in size. 2. High Power can be shot with a variety of firearms, all of which can be divided into two categories: service rifles and match rifles. Service rifles are shot by the majority of high power competitiors. Service rifles are any rifles that have been the standard issue of the United States Military or its civilian equivalent. These include the 1903 Springfield, M1 Garand, M14/M1A and M16/AR15. Service rifles can have limited visible external modifications. These include a stainless steel barrel, a smaller front site, a smaller rear site and any decorations that do not affect the operation of the rifle. Internally, a variety of modifications can be made, including adding weight to the handguards/buttstock, lightening the trigger to 4.5 lbs, getting a new trigger and changing the bolt carrier assembly/headspace. Match rifles are much less regulated. They can include bolt guns or modified service rifles. They usually have metallic sights but in some matches, scopes are used. Their trigger can be much lighter. They can have adjustable handstops and buttplates. Match rifles are another class and are usually not directly compared to service rifles in competition. 3. High Power is typically a term refering to Across the course high power(as defined in "What is High Power?"), but can also include other competitions. There is also NTIT (National Trophy Infantry Team), also known as "Rattle battle." Rattle battle is a team match in which there is a team of six and two captains. The match starts at the 600 yard line, where the team is given 384 rounds of identical ammunition. The team decides how they want to divide up the ammo. The objective is for the six shooters to engage eight targets with all 384 rounds. The two best shooters on the team are refered to as "swing shooters" and have to engage two targets each, so that the team engages all eight targets. There are no alibis, so if something malfunctions, the team members have to communicate and shoot the handicapped target. The team gets 50 seconds at the 600 yard line to engage the 8 silhouette targets prone simultaneously. The team captains usually tell each member how many rounds to shoot. While the team shoots, the captains stand over with binoculars and try to give each shooter corrections. After the 50 seconds, if they have ammo left, the team walks up to the 500 yard line and repeats the preformance. After that stage of fire, if they have ammo left, they go to 300 yards, where they have to shoot a smaller target from the sitting position. After that, if they still have ammo left, they go to 200 yards and shoot the same target from the standing position. Scoring is hit or miss and points are assigned as follows: 600 yard hits are worth four points, 500 yard hits are worth three points, 300 yard hits are worth two points and 100 yard hits are worth one point. Misses don't count. There is a bonus point system refered to as "squaring." The number of targets with six hits (after each stage) gets squared and added to the number of hits. So if target one has 4 hits, two has 6, three has 12, four has 14, five has 8, six has 6, seven has 8, and eight has 10 then there are 68 hits and seven targets have six or more hits so the final score is 99 (50 + (7^2) = 99). There are also other team matches in which you shoot a normal across the course match, but you have a coach, and your score is added to your team mates. 4. There are many other places you could learn about high power. Probably the best thing you could do would be to go to a local clinic and start going to local matches. There are also many sources online where you can learn about high power. We provide a forum, the Zen Temple, where you can ask questions and share knowledge and similar things can be found elsewhere on the web. But the most efficient way to learn high power is just to talk to experienced shooters. Go to matches early and listen to conversations. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Most people are happy to help. If more experienced shooters see that you are new, they will look out for you and help you throughout the match. 5. High Power is shot on a national level. Each year the National Matches are held at Camp Perry, Ohio over a 2 week period. Lodging and food can be bought on base. Camp Perry is also a great place to buy equipment and learn new things. If you are new to high power, I also suggest that you attend the Marine Corp or Army Marksmanship Unit clinics. You do not have to make a cut off to shoot in the nationals. Anyone can go. 6. Depending on your location, there may or may not be 600 yard ranges close by. If you are a member to a 100 yard range, ask and see if they hold reduced course high power matches. If they do, shoot there and talk to other shooters to find other ranges in your area. A list of ranges in the Pennsylvania area can be found on our site under the "Ranges" section. 7. Most equipment needs to be bought either out at Camp Perry or over the internet. Here is a list of merchants who hold high power gear: Creedmoor Sports, Ray-Vin, Champion's Choice, Slings by J.H.W., Bushmaster, Schneller Manufacturing, and Kowa. 8. The majority of high power shooters shoot service rifles, particularly AR-15s. If you are new to the sport, I suggest you start out by buying an AR-15. It will be easier to get help and equipment if you need it. You can buy a standard AR-15 from your local gun store, or, if you want something specially for competition and you are willing to spend more money, you can buy special match versions. You can buy the Bushmaster competition rifle, the Colt competition rifle, or, if you are a member of a CMP affiliated club (like Zen) CMP rifle. You can also buy M1's, M1A's, Springfields or a bolt rifle if it has a magazine capacity of at least 5 rounds. 9. There is different types of ammunition for different rifles, but we are going to cover ammo for AR-15s. There are several different brands you can buy including Black Hills, Federal, Remington, or you can load your own. There are a couple of things that you will need to make sure you have. The bullet needs to weigh at least 69 grains. You can shoot lighter bullets at 200 and 300 yards, but 69 is the minimum for 600 yards. Make sure to take your rifle and ammo out to the range and get sight settings before match day. 10. I'm sure there are many questions not answered by this FAQ. It is important to us that you get those questions answered. Post your question on the Zen Temple, email any of the people listed on the Contacts page, or talk to anyone wearing a Zen shirt at a match. The only way to learn is to ask questions.