Newbie-friendly and yet uniquely challenging to seasoned competitors, Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association’s Arizona Defense Match completed its 11th annual season with a State Championship held on December 14, 2024. The turnout was a bit small (perhaps due to the holiday season) but successful nonetheless, as it drew predominantly new shooters, shooters new to competition and shooters new to electronic targets, three goals of the match.
Arizona Defense Match (ADM) is similar to NRA High Power competition but differs in that, instead of starting at 200 yards and retreating to fire at 300 and 600 yards, competitors start at 300 yards and advance to 200 and then 100 yards, and all stages consist of firing two prone rapid-fire strings on the NRA SR (200 yard) target. In this regard, the 60-round ADM course of fire somewhat represents a group of non-military citizens cooperating to shoot and move together.
“The ADM enhances your skills at listening, moving in unison in a safe manner as a large neighborhood, team or company, preparing your equipment and, of course, hitting a target multiple times within an allotted time,” Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association Training & Education Division Director Noble Hathaway said.
Explaining the use of electronic targets and setting them up were also parts of the program. These, too, added another element of enjoyment as well as education to the match in eliminating target pulling duties that can put considerable pressure on a new competitor. The electronic target system automatically and instantly rendered scores at the conclusion of firing, so there was no waiting for results to be posted.
ANY RIFLE, ANY SIGHT, 60 SECONDS
ADM has few rules beyond standard safety rules, which makes it less overwhelming to competition newbies. Any semi-automatic or bolt-action rifle is permitted, but given the rapid fire time limit, the AR-15 dominates. There is no restriction on iron or optical sights. The course of fire is 20 rounds each fired prone from 300, 200 and 100 yards. Shooters load six magazines with 10 rounds each (except, of course, for the M1 Garand), and fire two 10-round strings, each with a 60-second time limit. After the first string’s “Cease fire” command, the empty magazine remains in the rifle until the command to fire the second string. This slight change from High Power procedure means newcomers don’t experience the fumbling and anxiety of trying to beat the clock while trying to change the two-and-eight-round mags of High Power in the midst of the 10-round string.
PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT
Rules require the shooter to carry in his or her backpack virtually everything needed for the match, including loaded magazines and water (the latter an important accessory in Arizona), and to rest the rifle on the backpack when shooting, even if the shooter chooses to fire from a sling. Competitors must insert empty chamber indicators and sling the rifle muzzle-up over their shoulders and carry rifle, backpack and shooting mat (if using one) forward to the next firing point.
Unlike formal competitions, the atmosphere for ADM is deliberately laid back and slowed down, with plenty of patience extended to the new competitors. Range commands lack the vehemence and military jargon of formal High Power competition, and shooting through a practice match just prior to the championship match helped ease pre-game jitters. The low-stress environment is instrumental in fostering enjoyment for first-timers. “I’ve only been shooting for six months,” competitor Melanie Hutchings said. “I placed 12th out of 18, and I’m pretty happy with that.”
Yet ADM still has challenges for the seasoned competitor: shooters do not see the results of their shots until the entire match is over, so there is no spotting of shots to make adjustments for wind. As well, there are no sighting shots, so competitors need to have their dope, know their cold bore shot and be good judges of the wind
You couldn’t have asked for a better shooting day at Phoenix, Arizona’s world class Ben Avery Shooting Facility: 70 degrees, a nearly nonexistent half-value wind and high, thin clouds to dull the razor sharpness of a desert sun. Such perfect conditions coupled with prone shooting from a backpack rest at short range resulted in a number of shooters “cleaning” targets.
Such early competition success is key to promoting and holding a new shooter’s interest in the shooting sports. The experienced competitors at the ADM learned about electronic targets and enjoyed the easygoing pace while still finding challenge in the game. Though there can be only one match winner, the ADM is a win for all involved. If your club or association wants to attract new shooters and still keep the old hands interested, consider hosting a game modeled on the Arizona Defense Match.
