Sporting Shooting enthusiasts can now develop shooting skills and experience that will increase enjoyments and rewards in matches and tournaments that take place at an international level.

High Power Rifle, sometimes listed as Highpower Rifle, or HPR for short, caters for shooters of any skill level, open and/or graded, using centrefire (high power) rifles.  With a wide variety of rifle categories that are eligible to compete in this discipline, it caters for shooting enthusiasts who equally enjoy standard issue service rifles (also known as vintage rifles), optical rifles, factory sporting rifles, or the purpose built target and match rifles.  The sky is the limit for your preferences.  (for more info on rifle categories, check out our "Rifle Specifications"

High Power rifle shooting is the most popular event at the US annual championships - "The National Matches" run by the NRA (National Rifle Assn) and CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program).  Thousands of entrants made up of military, civilians, police, and juniors alike assemble at Camp Perry, in Port Clinton, Ohio, USA to vie for high power championship titles at one of the largest multi-positional, multi-distance, multi-course (Across the Course) and long range shooting competitions conducted anywhere in the world.

Almost any centrefire rifle, capable of completing the given course of fire, has the ability to contest High Power Rifle matches at a competitive level.  These matches have evolved over many years of experience to test shooter ability rather than the equipment.  Most typical rifle calibres from 22cal up to the 30’s, and most everything in between, will get you well and truly in the game, and from then it is a matter of practice. 

There are all types of rewards for the shooter of any level.  Apart from self reward of participating in such an outstanding, but challenging, discipline, shooters can aim for the highest ranking, achieving the highest grade, go through the qualification system, contest trophies at local, national and international events, or just be part of the game (which many shooters consider the most important value of all).

This discipline is truly a great one, and having international status makes it an important one for service and match shooters.  AIHPA, affiliated with many associations, is an administrative body for this discipline.  Shooters wishing to be part of this game are encouraged to join to take advantage of the benefits.

High Power Rifle is broken into a few sub disciplines and has various rifle categories.  These are touched on below.

Across the Courses Style:             Download the HPR Getting Started Guide
The name simply explains that the course is shot in 3 positions (standing, sitting and prone), over various distances (from 200 to 600yards), (or reduced distances with reduced targets), and differing types of fire (slow fire and rapid fire).  All the variables of shooting styles, hence the term "across the course".

The courses of fire, followed at most high power rifle across the course events, are typically 50-, 80-, or 100- shot matches, although any number of strings can total any number to offer a match aggregate.  Each match is made up of individual stages known as “strings”.  The 4 strings most commonly used as the basic building blocks of any HP rifle match or tournament are:

     - Short Range    200yards    10 rounds    Standing,      Application, Slow Fire (10min).
     - Short Range    200yards    10 rounds    Sitting,         Rapid (60 sec) - from standing.
     - Short Range    300yards    10 rounds    Prone,          Rapid (70 sec) - from standing.
     - Mid Range       600yards    10 rounds    Prone,          Application, Slow Fire (10min).

Note:  - NRA competition permits 2x spotted sighters, non scoring, before each string
         - CMP competition does not permit sighters (a test of service marksmanship).

Every High Power Rifle match or tournament, that carries classification or qualification, has multiples, or a combination of one or more of these strings.  For example, a tournament may be made up of the "National Match Course" 50 shot match (one of the most popular courses), but have an additional rapid fire string.

Distances for the above strings may be reduced to shorter distances by use of scaled down targets.  Eg. A smaller, reduced sized, target may be used at shorter distances to simulate the prescribed distance for a given course of fire etc.  This is common for many ranges, where the 600yard course is reduced to, say, 300 due to a limited facility.

Long Range:
This is a discipline of HPR, typically run at 600 and 1000yards.  The courses of fire is made of "slow fire" strings shot prone only.

This match is very popular for bigger calibre rifles, and being single round loading only, it is common to see purpose built rifles in large, custom and wildcat calibres.

Palma:
A similar format to Long Range is a very popular international shooting format known as "Palma".  The main difference is that Palma is limited to the 7.62NATO (Win 308) cartridge using the Sierra 155gr Palma bullet.  This is shot over distances of 800, 900 & 1000 yards.

Long Range styles of shooting, and PALMA is promoted via the NRAA and affiliate state bodies.