Legged Out Today
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: Formal Match & Competition shooting
Forum Description: Just as the title says...
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13690
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 3:39pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.07 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Legged Out Today
Posted By: britrifles
Subject: Legged Out Today
Date Posted: December 07 2024 at 5:22pm
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My three year quest has come to a conclusion today. At the CMP Talladega D-Day Matches in 2021, I unexpectedly earned my first 6 “Leg Points” with the M1 Garand in my first Excellence in Competition (EIC) Match. That started a journey to earn the remaining 24 points needed for the Distinguished Rifleman (DR) Award. This award can only be obtained shooting the Service Rifle (currently the M16/AR-15, M14/M1A or M1 Garand). Little did I know that would take three years with a lot of dedication and focus.
The DR badge is a unique award for Excellence in Competition and dates back to 1884 in the US Army. The program is now administered by the Civilian Marksmanship Program. Points are awarded for placing in the top 10% of shooters in special EIC matches following this specific course of fire: 10 shots standing slow fire at 200 yards 10 shots sitting rapid fire at 200 yards 10 shots prone rapid fire at 300 yards 20 shots prone slow fire at 600 yards NO SIGHTER SHOTS ALLOWED It’s been a journey, and at times it felt like I would never make it. Some have done this in just three EIC matches, many have never gotten the 30 points needed which must include one “Hard Leg” win of 8 or 10 points which is only given out when there are more than 36 Non-Distinguished shooters and you finish first or second place. Doesn’t sound all that tough until you try doing it. We must compete with the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) and USMC Shooting Team professionals who are assigned to this role full time. We don’t have the benefit of being issued equipment and ammunition to practice and compete with. Those guys and gals are good, very good, and tough to keep up with. It’s particularly difficult for those of us who “try too hard”. Invariably, stress and nerves got the better of me. Sometimes in the standing position, my knees would literally shake. If you had the attitude “I don’t give a flying ****) you had the advantage. I’m just glad it’s done and now so I can go back to shooting the “wood guns”, that is the M1, No. 4 and 1903 A3. |
Replies:
Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: December 07 2024 at 10:29pm
| it seems to me you did well , i gewt where your coming from , i appreciate them as well , but i wont part with my MIAI nor my ARs , or any of my handguns --- just not giving up an inch at this point |
Posted By: Zed
Date Posted: December 08 2024 at 3:12am
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Congratulations on your DR badge Geoff. That is a well earned achievement!  ------------- It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice! |
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: December 08 2024 at 4:57am
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Thanks Shaun, it’s been my primary shooting sport focus for the last 3 years. Took me thousands of rounds of dedicated one day a week practice. I fired in lots of matches too during that period. We are limited by shooting a maximum of 5 EIC matches in a year, no limits on any of the other high power service rifle matches. Mike, I’ll continue to shoot the AR in competition, but will back off the grueling tempo. The reloading hours I’ve spent to do this was mind numbing. I used to enjoy it, but it became a necessary chore. I know a guy who got out of shooting right after he became distinguished. I bought a lot of his reloading supplies. He figured there was no where else to go, no challenge left. I don’t intend to do that, but want to turn my focus back to the vintage service rifles and the Vintage Sniper Rifle matches shooting the No. 4 T. Want to give those guys with the Springfield 03A1 a run for their money. Besides, the T is just a cool rifle and fun to shoot. |
Posted By: Zed
Date Posted: December 08 2024 at 8:28am
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I think winning a competition with your Dad's No4T would be fantastic achievement! We know you have the ability! ------------- It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice! |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: December 08 2024 at 10:18am
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Congratulations! Well earned I say. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: December 08 2024 at 11:08am
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Your Dad would be proud! ------------- Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts. |
Posted By: Mayhem
Date Posted: December 08 2024 at 3:24pm
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Congratulations - well deserved. ------------- .303 - Helping Englishmen express their feelings since 1889 |
Posted By: Doco Overboard
Date Posted: December 08 2024 at 3:26pm
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That's a heck of an accomplishment. Way to go and congratulations!
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Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: December 09 2024 at 7:31am
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Thanks for the kind compliments guys. I hope to encourage others to take up this sport. It's never too late to do this, I know several guys in their 80's who are still shooting matches, and some are still posting very good scores. A few years back, the CMP introduced a new Distinguished Markman award, where shooters are allowed to use adaptive positions based on physical disabilities. So there is hope for us all! Since 1884 there has been some 2700 civilian shooters who have become Distinguished Rifleman (DR). Initially, the DR program was open only to the US Army, then opened up to civilians in 1926. Not a heck of a lot when you consider how many competitors historically have gone to the Nationals at Camp Perry every year; thousands. National Matches participation peaked around 1990, and has been going down ever since. This year there were 757 entries in the National Trophy Service Rifle Match. |
Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: December 09 2024 at 4:30pm
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[QUOTE=britrifles]Thanks Shaun, it’s been my primary shooting sport focus for the last 3 years. Took me thousands of rounds of dedicated one day a week practice. I fired in lots of matches too during that period. We are limited by shooting a maximum of 5 EIC matches in a year, no limits on any of the other high power service rifle matches. Mike, I’ll continue to shoot the AR in competition, but will back off the grueling tempo. The reloading hours I’ve spent to do this was mind numbing. I used to enjoy it, but it became a necessary chore. I know a guy who got out of shooting right after he became distinguished. I bought a lot of his reloading supplies. He figured there was no where else to go, no challenge left. I don’t intend to do that, but want to turn my focus back to the vintage service rifles and the Vintage Sniper Rifle matches shooting the No. 4 T. Want to give those guys with the Springfield 03A1 a run for their money. Besides, the T is just a cool rifle and fun to shoot. |
Posted By: Irish Blonde
Date Posted: January 17 2025 at 6:54am
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You're a machine! How's the last year treated you?
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