ViMSAR (Vintage Military Semi Auto Rifle)
THE HISTORY BEHIND THESE EVENTS
The development and use of the military bolt action rifles using metallic cartridges spans from circa mid eighteen sixties to 1936 when the last newly developed military bolt action rifle was adopted. During this time many guns were produced to supply the armies of the world. Of course, these guns provided excellent service in WWII and long after. The idea of shooting ViMBAR is to experience the capabilities these old military rifles had on the battlefield. Some were better then the others, but most had capabilities that are amazing still today.
Vintage Military Bolt-action Rifle (ViMBAR) and Vintage Military Semi-auto Rifle (ViMSAR) are concepts that were developed so that collectors of the myriad of inexpensive military surplus rifles available today can have an opportunity to use them in a fun shooting match environment. You can go out and buy a $100 surplus Mauser, some inexpensive surplus ammunition, and be “in the game” and as competitive as the next guy. The idea behind the ViMBAR/ViMSAR match is to experience the capabilities these rifles had on the battlefield, and the service they provided to soldiers all over the world in conflicts spanning the past century and a quarter. ViMBAR/ViMSAR matches are not intended to be “precision accuracy” or High Power Service Rifle competitions. On the contrary, we encourage the use of life-size or large targets, and specifically prohibit the use on the line of High Power equipment, range finders, wind flags, or other such items as deemed “prohibited” by the match designers. In that vein, we often invoke “Spirit of the Game”, the original adage of the ever popular Cowboy Action Shooting™ game.
This forum is devoted to distributing information about ViMBAR/ViMSAR shooting matches. Our match schedule information primarily concerns the ViMBAR/ViMSAR matches held at Desert Sportsman Rifle & Pistol Club in Las Vegas, NV, however, we will list matches elsewhere if the information is emailed to us in advance of the event.
DATES, TIMES, COST
ViMSAR matches held on the 3rd Saturday of each month at Desert Sportsman Rifle & Pistol Club.
http://www.dsrpc.net/
We start setting up the COF at 800AM with the walk through and match beginning promptly at 9:00AM. Expect to be finished no later than 1:00PM. During the summer, the matches begin at 8:00AM to escape the mid-day heat.
Cost is just five dollars for members and six dollars for non-members. First time shooters are FREE!
To give a quick summary:
Any military issued semi automatic rifle is allowed in ViMSAR, up to but not including the M-16/AR-15.
The rifle has to be in AS-ISSUED condition. So, no aftermarket sights, no laminated or composite stocks (unless original), no glass bedding and no match triggers.
No National Match parts on M-1's or M-1A's. Bi-pods are allowed if they were original equipment on that particular rifle. We're just trying to keep an even playing field here, and don't want it to become an equipment race.
We generally include a hand gun on one stage, and encourage shooters to bring their own, though we usually have a loner available. Same rules apply to the hand gun - as issued.
If you compete in uniform, you get a one point bonus, and if you shoot the whole match with your bayonet attached in the pointy position, you get a three point bonus.
We also have a grenade or bayonet throw on one of the stages.
if you have any specific questions, please don't hesitate to contact me,
English Andy - ViMSAR Assistant Match Director
