What is Match Rifle?
www.GBMRT2016.org.uk
Match Rifle is a target shooting discipline, shot mainly in the UK, but with a growing band of devotees
in Australia. It began in the UK in the mid 1800s, when a number of adventurous shooters decided to test
to the limit the capabilities of themselves, and their equipment, at long-range marksmanship. From the very
beginning, experimentation and innovation have always played an important part in Match Rifle.
Today, Match Rifle is normally shot at distances between 1000 to 1200 yards, so we like to say that
‘where other shooting stops, Match Rifle begins’. Every now and then, however, we have the chance to test
our ammunition and wind judgement at longer ranges, and
everyone on the team is looking forward to the shoot at
1500 yards which marks the end of the tour. This
is still some way short of the furthest distance
at which Match Rifle has been shot, with
records existing of shoots at ranges
in excess of 2000 yards (comfortably
over a mile).
Like Target
Rifle,
Match
Rifle is shot with
the
7.62mm
cartridge,
but,
unlike the short
range discipline,
there is no issued
ammunition,
with
hand loading allowed
(and encouraged –
very few competition
winners use ‘off the
shelf ’ ammunition) in all
competitions. Typically, most shooters use bullets weighing between
200 and 215 grains, but there are still a few on the point who use 190 grain
heads, and some have ventured as far as 220 or even 230 grain projectiles.
A wider range of shooting positions and equipment is also allowed in Match Rifle.
Nowadays, most shoot in the prone position, some using a sling and others using a rest to
support the hand holding the rifle. The rifle may not, however, be directly supported by
a rest or bipod. There are still a healthy number of ‘traditionalists’, who shoot in the supine
position, reclining on their backs, with feet pointing towards the target!
Halford, by Cecil Cutler, 1893