Phoenix Meeting : New Rifle Definitions for Service Rifle

[Steve E]

After much hard work the new definitions for the Service Rifle Class have been approved.Those that are on the NRAs mailing list will have been informed of the new changes.
Simply put there is no longer a ring fenced .303 class. This has been replaced with the three classes of SR (a), SR (b) and SR (O).
http://www.nra.org.uk/common/files/gr/P ... ns2014.pdf. The new rules take out a lot of the vagaries of the previous rules and will become the basis of all Classic/Historic Service Rifle shooting.

Those who are really astute will be able to see that the rules open up the competition to all manner of pre 1955 rifles.

In conjunction with these rules the NRA are working on a set of rules and course of fire for a purely SR (a) match to be held in October.
Once the Match conditions for the October Match are sorted, I will post here. The intention is that the the match should be able to be shot on any MOD Range or any Gallery range that shooters have access to.

[mag41uk]

That looks good. The 200 yard events rules have been pretty vague since they started.
I have seen people using front and rear bags with a smle as there was nothing in match conditions to say otherwise.
I do have one question though and sorry if its dim!
In Service rifle A it says a sling can be attached but doesn't say whether it can or cant be used or in what manner.
I don't have a 1963 bible to look it up either!
Cheers,
Tony

[Steve E]

That looks good. The 200 yard events rules have been pretty vague since they started.
I have seen people using front and rear bags with a smle as there was nothing in match conditions to say otherwise.
I do have one question though and sorry if its dim!
In Service rifle A it says a sling can be attached but doesn't say whether it can or cant be used or in what manner.
I don't have a 1963 bible to look it up either!
Cheers,
Tony

No you are not being dim.
It was my intention that the sling could not be used but at present the issued sling fitted in the issued way(top and bottom swivels only) can be used. If you need clarification on this contact Peter Cotterall in Shooting Division at the NRA, who will probably get back to me on this.

[John MH]

Steve

Please could you make it clear what your involvement in the revision of the rules is and whether you hold any position within the NRA, ie Discipline Rep?


Regards

John

[Steve E]

Steve

Please could you make it clear what your involvement in the revision of the rules is and whether you hold any position within the NRA, ie Discipline Rep?


Regards

John

I hold no position in the NRA, but two years ago several people myself included complained to the NRA about the inconsistency of the rule of the .303 class in the Phoenix. To cut along story short I was asked by Chris Farr to come up with a set of rules. I submitted a set of rules based on the Bisley Bible fro years 1955-63. The Phoenix organisers then asked me to advise them. I did this in consultation with other Historic/Classic Service Rifle Shooters. We now have a set of rules that are fairer than in previous years. I am working closely with Peter Cotterel on sorting out rules and conditions for competition in October which will be strictly SR (a). All rules for Service Rifle will set on historic and documented precedent.

[John MH]

Thanks

Are these Phoenix only rules or NRA wide?

[froggy]

Excuse my ignorance but I have never shot this "Service Rifle".
What's the course of fire please ?

All I can find is that "service Rifle" is shot from distances of 100 yards to 500 but can't find when kneeling, standing etc ... or if there is some timing, or the number of rounds .

Hilf mir bitte !!

[Steve E]

Thanks

Are these Phoenix only rules or NRA wide?

At the moment Phoenix and Action Weekend only but they may be run out across the whole of the NRA so that there is one set of rules that leave no one on doubt. I think Peter Cottrell ultimately wants one set of rules so that Phoenix,Trafalgar, and Service Rifle all use the same definitions.

Froggy, you can view the match conditions on the NRA website, download the Bisley Bible and the Phoenix handbook and they are all described.,

[John MH]

Would not work for CSR as each rifle must have a minimum 10 capacity; if they don’t it makes safety supervision more difficult if competitors are changing magazines or using stripper clips during a practice especially during Fire & Movement.

[Steve E]

Would not work for CSR as each rifle must have a minimum 10 capacity; if they don’t it makes safety supervision more difficult if competitors are changing magazines or using stripper clips during a practice especially during Fire & Movement.

I have only been involved in the definitions not the courses of fire so the definitions of the rifle do fit in with CSR if required.
That a course of fire needs 10 rounds and charging of magazines using stripper clips mid shoot may be a safety concern effectively restricts which rifles may be used. That is up to the organisers of that particular match.
In purely historic/classic matches a rifle that needs to be 'topped up' as it only hold 5 rounds should not be discriminated against as opposed to those that have a 10 round capacity. I do not believe in ring fencing matches just for Enfields and neither I suspect does the Head of Shooting at the NRA.