The course of Fire: The course of fire is either 58 shots (50 for record plus two sighting shots per stage, otherwise known as the National Match course) or 88 shots (80 for record plus the same 2 sighting shots per stage, known as the regional course). The only difference between the 50 and 80-record shot matches is that 10 more shots are fired on stages 1, 2, and 3 in the 80-shot match; the courses of fire are otherwise identical.
Stage Descriptions:
Stage 1 is standing, slow fire in which you load one round at a time, with a time allotment of 12 or 22 minutes depending on the match being shot. There are two sighters and 10 record shots in 12 minutes (50-shot match) or two sighters and 20 record shots in 22 minutes (80-shot match). Using the sling is not allowed. (It must be attached to the rifle but cannot be used as a shooting aid.) The proper range is 200 yards, but like already said, reduced targets are used when shot at 100 yards.
Stage 2 is kneeling or sitting rapid-fire at 200 yards (or on reduced target at 100 yards). Almost no one uses kneeling due to its inherent instability unless personal physical limitations render sitting impossible. This stage is begun with two slow-fire sighters in two minutes, marked individually as per the standing stage, fired from the position the shooter will use for the rapid-fire string. When the sighters are finished, commands for commencing firing for record will be provided. Service rifle shooters load with two rounds and reload with eight while match rifle shooters will load with five and reload with five. Sling use is allowed. For this stage, bolts for all rifles must be open. When the line is pronounced ready by the line officer, shooters will have 60 seconds to go and fire a total of ten rounds, including a reload of the rifle with a change of magazine. At the end of 60 seconds, cease fire command will be given. Any shots not fired by the competitor count as misses. Once firearms are cleared, and safely put away and the command is given by the line officer, shooters walk to targets for scoring the neighbor shooter’s target (now you get why our match is referred to as “Walk and Paste Matches”). In a 50-shot match, you fire only one string; in an 80-shot match, you repeat the 10-shot string after the first one has been scored and recorded. This target is the same as that used for Stage 1.
Stage 3 is prone rapid-fire at 300 yards (or on reduced targets at 100 yards) and is very similar to Stage 2. First, two slow-fire sighters are fired within a two-minute time limit. Sling use is allowed. When the line is declared ready, and the commence fire command is given, shooters will have 70 seconds to fire their first load of two or five rounds, reload with a change of magazine, and fire the balance of their ten shots. At the end of the 70 seconds, and once firearms are cleared, safely put away and the command is given, shooters walk to targets and scored as described for Stage 2. For an 80-shot match, the string is fired again. This target is identical to the one used at 200 yards in Stages 1 and 2 except that the 3-inch-wide white 8 ring is blackened to increase the diameter of the aiming black to about 18 inches, which keeps the size of the aiming black proportional to what was seen at 200 yards.
Stage 4 is prone, slow-fire, with 22 shots in 22 minutes, at 600 yards (or on reduced targets at 100 yards). First, two slow-fire sighting shots are fired within a two-minute time limit, followed by 20 shots for record. This is a very challenging stage that requires the shooter to perform to his or her limits of skill. Scoring is performed as in the previous stages of fire.