I highly encourage anyone who missed the Games this year to consider going next year. Camp Butner has a beautiful range, and pulling targets in the pits is certainly an experience.

After the morning matches, the CMP set up a store with rifles, ammunition, and other items for sale. Plus, we got to rub elbows with a few celebrity shooters: members of Team Hornady were there along with GySgt R. Lee Ermey.

The accompanying photo was published in The Daily Reflector along with this short write-up:

“Members of the Down East Garand Shooters recently competed in the Civilian Marksmanship Program Easter Games and Creedmoor Cup Matches at Fort Butner. Lenn Norment won a gold medal, while Ray Anti took silver. The club conducts monthly competitions at Paradise Outdoors. Anyone interested in joining can contact Clint Randles at (252) 714-8619 or Anti at (252) 355-2445. The group provides loaner rifles and ammunition. Pictures are, from left, front row, Anti, Peter O’Rourke, Chris Hymen, Bill Waggoner, back row, Clay Hallock, Jeff Kinney, Kenneth “Mike” Turner, John Downs, Matthew Rever, and Jason Cisarano. Not pictured is Norment.”

Garand matches at Butner are shot on a 200 yard range using the full-sized SR target. You can also shoot your 1903A3 or other vintage military rifle in this same match. The Swiss K31 seemed a popular choice among the foreign military rifles. Other matches were set up for the M1 Carbine match and rimfire rifles.