ISRPA Highpower Rifle
This information is borrowed from www.illinoishighpower.org.
Highpower rifle competition is a test of marksmanship skill in various positions and various
distances with a rifle. Competitors shoot at paper targets and receive points depending on the shot
distance from the center of the target.
A typical Highpower match consists of a course of fire of 50, 80, or 100 shots. All of these shots are
typically fired at 200, 300, and 600 yards away from the target, in standing, sitting, and prone
positions.
The target consists of a paper face with a number of concentric circles printed on it. The points value
of the circles decreases as the distance from the center increases. Competitors score points by
shooting at the target and noting in which scoring ring their shot goes. The closer towards the center
of the target that the bullet hits, the higher the point value for that shot.
Targets are mounted on frames and placed behind a berm of earth. Scorers in these "pits" lower the
targets after each slow fire shot fired, examine the hole to see what the points value the shot has,
mark the target with that value, and raise the target to be exposed for the next shot.
Equipment in highpower can range from completely simple to overwhelmingly complex. This is
mostly due to the personal preference of the individual competitor.
Basic Equipment
Service Rifle
Probably the most common rifle used in highpower is the service rifle. To be able to shoot in this
category, your rifle must be based on the M-1, M-14, or M-16 rifle or it's commercial equivalents.
Service rifles may contain internal modifications and very slight external changes.
The three approved Service Rifles
Match Rifle
If you want to have a lot of flexibility and shoot a rifle customized to fit your individual shooting style
then match rifle is for you. Match rifles are limited to a maximum of .30 caliber, the use of metallic
sights, and the ability to hold at least 5 rounds of ammunition in some kind of magazine. Other than
that, the owner is free to tweak any part of the rifle he/she wishes.
Ammunition
Most competitors reload their own ammunition. This is done not only for economics but also for
consistency of accuracy as well. Different ammunition can be used at different distances. For
example, a competitor shooting an M-16 type service rifle might shoot a 69 gr. bullet at 200 yds., a 77
gr. bullet at 300 yds., and an 80 gr. bullet at 600 yds.
Spotting Scope
Most highpower competitors use a stand mounted spotting scope to see their shots when they
shoot and look at the targets when they score. While the use of spotting scopes is very common, it is
by no means mandatory. These scopes can sometimes be costly with top of the line set-ups costing
almost $1000. Newer competitors should not be intimidated by these prices as lower cost scopes
are also available.
A common brand of spotting scope
Mat
Most competitors use some type of mat to lay on during the prone stages of fire. While a purpose
built mat is best, new competitors might want to use a blanket or ground cloth while they learn what
highpower is all about.
Glove or Mit
In an effort to get a better grip on the rifle stock a lot of competitors use some type of shooting glove.
Sometimes these are full fingered gloves and others are mit-types with no fingers. Both are well
padded.
Courses of Fire
The course of fire consists of shooting from different positions at various distances from the target.
Positions
The most common positions used in Highpower are Standing (or Offhand), Sitting, and Prone.
Distances
A typical "across the course" Highpower match will have the competitors firing at 200, 300, and 600
yard distances from the targets. If a match is being fired at a range where the distances are reduced,
the targets are smaller to simulate the greater range.
Time Limits
Different phases of a match are fired at different speeds depending on the time limit.
A slow fire stage requires competitors to fire one shot at a time. They must load each round
individually. Each shot is also scored individually. Usually shooters have as many minutes to fire that
stage as there are shots to fire. For example, a ten shot slow fire string will have a time limit of ten
minutes.
Rapid fire means that competitors must get into position and fire the requisite number of rounds
from their magazine within the specified time limit. At the start of the phase, shooters are in a
standing position. When the targets are exposed, competitors go into a sitting or prone position
(depending on the phase being fired), fire the rounds in their magazines, change magazines or
reload, and finish shooting the string. The time limit for this type of fire is 60 seconds per string for
sitting and 70 seconds for prone.
The National Match Course
This is a 50 shot course of fire that is common in service rifle only matches.
The 80 Round Regional Course
This course of fire is probably the most popular in NRA Highpower Rifle Competition
Scoring
At most matches, targets are mounted on movable frames behind berms of dirt called "pits".
Competitors take turns in the pits to pull and score targets for the other competitors on the firing line.
During the slow fire stage targets are marked after each shot. When the bullet goes through the
target, the person(s) manning the target pulls the frame down into the pits. If the bullet went through
or touched a scoring ring, the competitor gets the point value of that scoring ring. If the bullet went
into the X ring the competitor gets ten points and the X count is tracked separately. X's are used for
breaking ties.
A scoring disk is placed in a pre-determined part of the frame and a spotting disk is placed over the
bullet hole. The target is then raised back into the air so that the competitor and their scorer back at
the line can see it. The scorer writes down the point value for that shot on the score sheet and the
shooter may fire again. This process repeats itself for the entire string.
This picture shows the position of the scoring
disc. For an example, if the shot was a nine, the
scoring disc would be placed in the lower, right
hand corner.
For rapid fire stages the targets are left in the raised position for the entire string. When time has
expired, the target frame is pulled into the pits, the shot values noted and marked on a chalkboard.
This chalkboard is hung on the target frame and the whole frame is raised up to be viewed by the
shooter and scorer. Spotting disks are also placed in the shot holes so the shooter can see where
he placed his shots.
A scored rapid fire target in the air
Highpower rifle competition is a test of marksmanship skill in various positions and various
distances with a rifle. Competitors shoot at paper targets and receive points depending on the shot
distance from the center of the target.
A typical Highpower match consists of a course of fire of 50, 80, or 100 shots. All of these shots are
typically fired at 200, 300, and 600 yards away from the target, in standing, sitting, and prone
positions.
The target consists of a paper face with a number of concentric circles printed on it. The points value
of the circles decreases as the distance from the center increases. Competitors score points by
shooting at the target and noting in which scoring ring their shot goes. The closer towards the center
of the target that the bullet hits, the higher the point value for that shot.
Targets are mounted on frames and placed behind a berm of earth. Scorers in these "pits" lower the
targets after each slow fire shot fired, examine the hole to see what the points value the shot has,
mark the target with that value, and raise the target to be exposed for the next shot.
Equipment in highpower can range from completely simple to overwhelmingly complex. This is
mostly due to the personal preference of the individual competitor.
Basic Equipment
Service Rifle
Probably the most common rifle used in highpower is the service rifle. To be able to shoot in this
category, your rifle must be based on the M-1, M-14, or M-16 rifle or it's commercial equivalents.
Service rifles may contain internal modifications and very slight external changes.
The three approved Service Rifles
Match Rifle
If you want to have a lot of flexibility and shoot a rifle customized to fit your individual shooting style
then match rifle is for you. Match rifles are limited to a maximum of .30 caliber, the use of metallic
sights, and the ability to hold at least 5 rounds of ammunition in some kind of magazine. Other than
that, the owner is free to tweak any part of the rifle he/she wishes.
Ammunition
Most competitors reload their own ammunition. This is done not only for economics but also for
consistency of accuracy as well. Different ammunition can be used at different distances. For
example, a competitor shooting an M-16 type service rifle might shoot a 69 gr. bullet at 200 yds., a 77
gr. bullet at 300 yds., and an 80 gr. bullet at 600 yds.
Spotting Scope
Most highpower competitors use a stand mounted spotting scope to see their shots when they
shoot and look at the targets when they score. While the use of spotting scopes is very common, it is
by no means mandatory. These scopes can sometimes be costly with top of the line set-ups costing
almost $1000. Newer competitors should not be intimidated by these prices as lower cost scopes
are also available.
A common brand of spotting scope
Mat
Most competitors use some type of mat to lay on during the prone stages of fire. While a purpose
built mat is best, new competitors might want to use a blanket or ground cloth while they learn what
highpower is all about.
Glove or Mit
In an effort to get a better grip on the rifle stock a lot of competitors use some type of shooting glove.
Sometimes these are full fingered gloves and others are mit-types with no fingers. Both are well
padded.
Courses of Fire
The course of fire consists of shooting from different positions at various distances from the target.
Positions
The most common positions used in Highpower are Standing (or Offhand), Sitting, and Prone.
Distances
A typical "across the course" Highpower match will have the competitors firing at 200, 300, and 600
yard distances from the targets. If a match is being fired at a range where the distances are reduced,
the targets are smaller to simulate the greater range.
Time Limits
Different phases of a match are fired at different speeds depending on the time limit.
A slow fire stage requires competitors to fire one shot at a time. They must load each round
individually. Each shot is also scored individually. Usually shooters have as many minutes to fire that
stage as there are shots to fire. For example, a ten shot slow fire string will have a time limit of ten
minutes.
Rapid fire means that competitors must get into position and fire the requisite number of rounds
from their magazine within the specified time limit. At the start of the phase, shooters are in a
standing position. When the targets are exposed, competitors go into a sitting or prone position
(depending on the phase being fired), fire the rounds in their magazines, change magazines or
reload, and finish shooting the string. The time limit for this type of fire is 60 seconds per string for
sitting and 70 seconds for prone.
The National Match Course
This is a 50 shot course of fire that is common in service rifle only matches.
The 80 Round Regional Course
This course of fire is probably the most popular in NRA Highpower Rifle Competition
Scoring
At most matches, targets are mounted on movable frames behind berms of dirt called "pits".
Competitors take turns in the pits to pull and score targets for the other competitors on the firing line.
During the slow fire stage targets are marked after each shot. When the bullet goes through the
target, the person(s) manning the target pulls the frame down into the pits. If the bullet went through
or touched a scoring ring, the competitor gets the point value of that scoring ring. If the bullet went
into the X ring the competitor gets ten points and the X count is tracked separately. X's are used for
breaking ties.
A scoring disk is placed in a pre-determined part of the frame and a spotting disk is placed over the
bullet hole. The target is then raised back into the air so that the competitor and their scorer back at
the line can see it. The scorer writes down the point value for that shot on the score sheet and the
shooter may fire again. This process repeats itself for the entire string.
This picture shows the position of the scoring
disc. For an example, if the shot was a nine, the
scoring disc would be placed in the lower, right
hand corner.
For rapid fire stages the targets are left in the raised position for the entire string. When time has
expired, the target frame is pulled into the pits, the shot values noted and marked on a chalkboard.
This chalkboard is hung on the target frame and the whole frame is raised up to be viewed by the
shooter and scorer. Spotting disks are also placed in the shot holes so the shooter can see where
he placed his shots.
A scored rapid fire target in the air
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