Auto-loading Rifles

[cottyw]

Do any sniper/long range competitions allow auto-loading rifles? Are they competitive/accurate enough for long range work?

[bgary]

Don't know about all of them, but USPSA's Manually Operated Rifle division is for...uh... manually operated rifles. Mostly bolt guns, although there have been a few people (eg, Jake Kempton) who have done quite well with modified ARs (gas system disabled, springs removed, and a "bolt handle" added to cycle it.)

Having said that, we *are* talking about changing the "MOR" competition to "Precision Rifle" competition, and having two divisions - bolt and auto. This would give a place for just about anything.

Bruce

[smokshwn]

Actually most competitions outside of USPSA are a run what ya brung sort of affair. Most competitors use a bolt gun as there is really not a great advantage to the autos. There is usually no classes or divisions you shoot and the results are the results. You will see a new guy with a savage 308 topped with a super sniper compete against a very seasoned sniper with a $4000 stick and a $2500 scope with ballistic software on a palm pilot. It is all fair game.

Check out www.snipershide.com for a little more info on sniper/long range precision events.

Take care, Craig

[Zak Smith]

At the ITRC, SPSC-West, and TACPRO sniper matches, autos are "allowed". These type of matches sometimes have a caliber restriction (eg, 6mm to 300WM), but are basically "open" besides that. It's up to you to figure out what's an appropriate rifle for the match.

Of those three matches, two (SPSC and TACPRO) had more close shots (300 or less) than far shots and both included some speed shooting stages which would have been easier with a semi-auto (e.g. 20 flies @ 100 yards). At the ITRC, all the precision shots are far and there is no real detriment to even single-loading.

So they can work, but you kind of need to do match research to figure out what would be the best bet. SPSC could have been shot with an accurate 20" AR15. There were a bunch of AR10's at TACPRO, etc.

-z

[ccur]

At Rifles Only when I shot it, they required you to have the bolt open when changing positions (barricades, tower..looking down)..anyway, the gas gun guys had to SINGLE LOAD....thats the only match I have been to like that, but it might pay to ask before you go

Cheryl

[Zak Smith]

Match "intel" is important. Don't want to show up at the ITRC without asking around first!

Is single loading an AR-style rifle a big deal? Leave a magazine in, drop a round into the port, and hit the bolt release? Upon firing, the bolt is locked open, ready to go? Works on my AR15 anyway.