I started competetive shooting in 1960, shortly after I received my commission in the Marine Corps. I had been released from active duty to start law school, and would not resume long term active duty until I graduated and was admitted to the bar. While I was in law school, I attended drills with the local Marine Corps Reserve Unit.
I had been thoroughly trained and qualified as Expert with the M-14 rifle, but I had no such rifle at my disposal as a reservist 2nd Lieutenant. Instead, I chose to compete in NRA sponsored matches with a much modified Springfield 03, which sported a target stock, a medium heavy barrel in caliber .30-'06, target sights and a target trigger. With it, I was able to shoot scores which initially qualified my as NRA Expert.
With my Springfield, I was able to compete "across the course", a course of fire which included 10 rounds standing at a range of 200 yards, 10 rounds standing to sitting rapid fire, which meant that I would be standing with a loaded rifle as the targets were exposed. I then had 60 seconds to get into position, fire five shots, reload with a stripper clip, and fire a second five shots, all in a time limit of 60 seconds. Unfired rounds counted as misses. Again the range was 200 yards.
The third stage was fired at 300 yards. Again, shooters remained standing until the targets were exposed, then took their position on the firing line, this time prone. Again, five shots were fired and the rifle reloaded with a stripper clip and the second five rounds were fired, this time at a range of 300 yards.
The fourth stage was fired at a range of 600 yards, in a time limit of 22 minutes, allowing for 2 sighting shots and 20 shots for record. Shooters were allowed to assume their prone position and fire two sighting shots, correcting the sights as needed. They were then allowed 20 minutes to fire 20 shots for record.
In the rapid fire stages, competitors were allowed the same amount of time regardless of whether they were firing the service rifle (M1 or M14) or match rifle, usually a bolt action rifle, but sometimes a M1 or M14 rifle with a non-regulation barrel and non-regulation sights.
Frequent practice sessions with my Springfield rifle allowed me to complete the rapid fire strings with no difficulty. As I gained experience, I gradually changed the equipment I was using, so that my final bolt rifle was a Model 70 Winchester, one of the pre-WW II models, which were especially prized for their smooth action.
I gradually evolved a technique which involved operating the bolt using my fore-finger only to open the action and retract the bolt until it encountered the bolt stop. I closed the bolt with my thumb, so the whole repeating procedure required only two motions.
This practice stood me in good stead in Africa in a few tight situations I found myself in, one involving a Cape buffalo, another a charging rhinoceros and the other a pack of Cape Hunting Dogs.
I was able to rise to the occasion on all three instances because of the hours of practice I had put in on my target rifle and later on my hunting rifles.
