Every shooter thinks they’re a rifleman—until someone hands them a scorecard at 600 yards.
One of the fastest-growing disciplines in the Civilian Marksmanship Program is AR Tactical, and for good reason. It strips away much of the expensive race-gun equipment and asks a simple question: Can you and your rifle actually hit what you’re aiming at?
Most shooters have never fired beyond 100 yards. Many have never tried 300. At 600 yards, everything matters—wind, ammunition, optics, trigger control, and the biggest variable of all: the shooter.
If you’ve got a reasonably accurate AR, bolt gun, or hunting rifle, there’s a good chance it can make the trip. The only way to find out is to come shoot.
As someone who spent decades shooting traditional sling prone in smallbore and high-power competition, I learned an interesting lesson transitioning to AR Tactical. I assumed all those years of experience would transfer directly. They didn’t.
A bipod isn’t a sling with training wheels.
With a sling, your body is the front rest. With a bipod, the bipod is the front rest. Instead of laying across the rifle at a sharp angle, I found it more comfortable—and more consistent—to get directly behind the rifle with both legs naturally extended. I also learned not to obsess over the lowest bipod setting. Raising the rifle slightly often improves neck and shoulder comfort while making recoil easier to manage.
The biggest surprise? Sometimes decades of experience simply means decades of habits that solved yesterday’s problem.
That’s what makes AR Tactical so much fun. It’s approachable for new shooters, yet challenging enough to keep national champions learning.
Whether you show up with a Ruger Precision Rifle, a hunting rifle, or your favorite AR, you’ll quickly discover that good marksmanship beats internet opinions every time.
So here’s the challenge:
Will your rifle even reach 600 yards?
There’s only one way to find out.
Come join us on the firing line. You might discover your rifle shoots better than you expected—and that you have a lot more fun than you imagined.
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Want to learn more?
The official CMP Highpower Rifle Rulebook includes the AR Tactical Mid-Range , and F-Practical rules and equipment requirements, and course of fire.
Download the latest rules from the CMP Competition Rulebooks page, or go directly to the current 2026 CMP Highpower Rifle Rulebook (PDF).
https://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Highpower-Rifle.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
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