Tag: CMP

Build Your Own M1 GARAND

Posted on by Dave Barus
  • The total cost for the Advanced Mainteneance Class is $2,400 ($1,250 – Tuition cost. – Included is a case, Kuhnhausen book, sling, etc. and $1,150 – Expert Rifle).
  • The Advanced Maintenance Class (AMC) held in Anniston, Alabama, several times each year.
  • The 2027 Registration Period: October 19–December 19, 2026 – don’t wait.

If there is one thing that many American rifle owners would like to do one time, it might be to build their own M1 Garand. The M1 Garand is an 8-round (bloc clip) gas-operated semi-automatic service rifle chambered in 30-06 Springfield, plus other variants (7.62x51mm). It was officially adopted by the U.S. Army in 1936 as standard issue. General George Patton said, “It’s the greatest battle implement ever devised.”

Thanks to CMP, you can build your own M1 Garand rifle in Anniston, Alabama, with hands-on instruction from CMP’s Custom Shop staff. The 2027 schedule offers Individual and Buddy Classes from March through October. Tour CMP facilities, learn the rifle inside and out, and test-fire your finished Garand at CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park.

Designed for those who wish to take their passion for the venerable M1 Garand to the next level, the Advanced Maintenance Class (AMC) held in Anniston, Alabama, offers students a unique opportunity to receive unparalleled training from our knowledgeable Custom Shop Staff and build their very own M1 Rifle.

“Our AMC students aren’t just assembling rifles, they’re connecting to history,” said Lucus Tyus, CMP Custom Shop Manager. “Every class brings together enthusiasts, veterans and lifelong learners who share a passion for precision, preservation and patriotism. It’s one of the most rewarding experiences we offer.”

CMP Photo

Individual Advanced Maintenance Course: This course is designed for individual learners who want to deepen their skills in maintenance techniques for the M1 Garand, you will share your workstation with a fellow enthusiast. It focuses on personal experience, hands-on training, and independent enhanced individual expertise.

“Buddy” Advanced Maintenance Course: Imagine spending quality time with your favorite person while picking up valuable skills together. Our “Buddy” Advanced Maintenance Course is designed for two participants—whether it’s a family member, spouse, or close friend—to share a workstation and create lasting memories.

Day One: Classroom instruction, rifle assembly, and a facility tour

Day Two: Classroom instruction and final rifle assembly

Day Three: Test-Firing at TMP – participants are encouraged to bring other firearms and ammunition to take full advantage of the all-day range pass.

According to CMP, “As you work side by side, you’ll tackle challenges together, share ideas, and provide each other with supportive feedback. This course emphasizes teamwork and collaboration, making it a perfect choice for those who enjoy learning and growing alongside someone special. So, grab your buddy and get ready to bond over shared experiences and new skills!”

Registration for the random drawing and process: Due to limited spaces and high demand, CMP uses a random drawing to select participants for the Advanced Maintenance Classes.

Registration has closed for the 2026 AMC dates. Email notifications for the 2026 Advanced Maintenance Classes were sent on January 9th, 2026, to inform selected participants. For those who are chosen, tuition payment is due by the end of the month prior to their remaining selected dates shown here: Individual Class: October 20th-22nd; Buddy Class: October 23rd-25th.

2027 Registration Period: October 19–December 19, 2026. The 2027 dates:

Registration will remain open throughout the registration period. Submitting a registration does not guarantee selection, and registering early does not increase the likelihood of being selected.

Individuals selected for a 2027 class will be notified by email on January 8, 2027.

Registration links will be posted on the CMP website at Advanced Maintenance Class – Civilian Marksmanship Program once they are available.

The total cost for the AMC is $2,400 ($1,250 – Tuition cost. – Included is a case, Kuhnhausen book, sling, etc. and $1,150 – Expert Rifle).

Questions?

Please contact Kaylee Hayden at (256) 835-8455 ext. 418 or email amc@thecmp.org.

CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park – “THE HOME OF MARKSMANSHIP”

Posted on by Dave Barus

The CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park – “THE HOME OF MARKSMANSHIP” – is where responsible firearm ownership, safety instruction and accuracy training reside inside a beautiful 500-acre facility. The CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park offers a variety of opportunities for firearm owners of all interests and skill levels.. The park prides itself on its friendly, accommodating staff and the convenience of its outdoor electronic target line.

The cutting-edge electronic targets, located on Ranges 1 and 2, relay scores and report shots instantly to competitor and spectator monitors. Range 3 is equipped with turning pistol targets at 25 and 50 yards, while the versatile John C. Garand highpower rifle range offers 54 covered firing points and all-weather, electronically-scored targetry at 200, 300 and 600 yards.

The park also features a 100-yard rifle range with the same innovative technology, plus an unknown distance range and 15 action pistol bays that are capable of accommodating a variety of competitions, including 3-Gun.

For Shotgun enthusiasts, Talladega Marksmanship Park houses several structured areas featuring Trap, Skeet, 5-Stand Fields, a Wobble Trap and a 1 mile 15-station Sporting Clays loop. Each area is maintained by CMP’s own shotgun experts and is furnished with top-of-the-line equipment for guests to enjoy.

The Archery Range at Talladega is located on the shotgun side of the grounds and outfitted with a 30×60-yard practice range and 20 lanes of life-size 3-D targets, specially painted to resemble live animals in their natural habitat. The foam Delta-McKenzie targets (typically used on the competition trail) are designed to fit along pathways tucked between the trees of Talladega’s terrain and may be arranged from 15 to 50 yards. The Archery Range is open to all experience levels, with a minimal age of 6 years to use.

The crown jewel of the park is a 13,000-square-foot Club House, featuring a check-in and reception area, two multi-media classrooms, spacious lounge areas and a CMP Pro Shop with firearms, accessories and ammunition sales. The CMP Pro Shop is open Wednesday – Sunday, 8:00AM – 4:30PM.

Talladega Marksmanship Park is open Wednesday-Sunday to the public. Don’t be a stranger, come see us at The Home of Marksmanship!

Come For A Visit, Come For The Day!  4387 Turner Mill Road, Talladega, Alabama. Open to the public, no membership required.

CMP’S 2024 Talladega D-Day Event will now Feature Shotgun!

Posted on by Dave Barus
  • CMP: Civilian Marksmanship Program – their Mission: Promote marksmanship through firearms training, competitions and youth programs.  
  • CMP awarded 142 scholarships, over $300,000 in value, to Marksmanship athletes for 2024-2025.
  • The CMP 2024 Talladega D-DAY Events are set for June 6-9, 2024.

By Ashley Dugan, CMP Staff Writer

Mark your calendars as the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) hosts the annual Talladega D-Day event, set to be held June 6-9, 2024, at Talladega Marksmanship Park in Alabama. Registration is currently open, so sign up now to join this commemorative occasion!

This year, the Talladega D-Day event will honor the 80th anniversary of the Allied Forces landing at Normandy Beach in France. Guests will be able to celebrate the heroes of the World War II generation through diverse marksmanship competitions and activities scattered throughout the 500 acres of Talladega Marksmanship Park.

Talladega D-Day Costume. CMP photo.

The 2024 Talladega D-Day Match will honor the 80th anniversary of the Allied Forces at Normandy.

New for 2024 – D-Day will include a special shotgun tournament on Talladega’s 15-station Sporting Clays Loop! The competition will take place on Saturday, June 8, and will include 200 clays for two-person teams. Register for the D-Day Shotgun Tournament at https://app.scorechaser.com/tournament-PAKQN0CJWGM0X1.

The 2024 D-Day event will also include the return of contemporary rifle match favorites like the Roosevelt Commemorative and Garand Iron Man EIC Rifle matches, as well as a Rimfire Sporter Rifle Benchrest Match and Benchrest Vintage Match—both ideal for those just beginning rifle competition or those with ailments eager to get back on the range.

For the first time, the 2024 D-Day event will feature a shotgun team event. CMP Photo

Along with a variety of educational courses, CMP’s traditional Games events, such as the GSMM, Carbine, and Vintage Sniper rifle matches and pistol matches like the 1911 As-Issued and Military & Police, will round out the full schedule. Those competing in the John C. Garand Match with As-Issued M1 Rifles will have the chance to earn a GCA (Garand Collectors Association) Master Marksman medal based on their score.

Come be part of the festivities on this special date in U.S. history. For more information on Talladega D-Day, visit https://thecmp.org/cmp-matches/talladega-d-day-matches/.

Talladega 600 Range Rifle events will be held on Talladega’s outdoor electronic target line.

Talladega D-Day Pistol Competitor Like rifle and pistol events are open to individuals of all competitive experience levels.

About Talladega Marksmanship Park: Talladega Marksmanship Park, “The Home of Marksmanship,” hosts rifle, pistol, shotgun and archery opportunities for guests to enjoy. The park Club House consists of 13,000 square feet of useable space and includes CMP’s Pro Shop, which is loaded with firearms, ammunition, shooting accessories and CMP memorabilia. Don’t forget about the Pro Shop’s Commercial Gun Sales, which will be available beginning June 1, 2024!

The facility is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, all year long. The CMP website has a list of monthly events and other happenings at Talladega Marksmanship Park: https://thecmp.org/ranges/talladega-marksmanship-park/.

Learning Safe Use of Firearms

Posted on by Forrest Fisher

cmp1Where is there a better place to learn about firearms than from a government-mandated program that is comprised of certified instructors proficient and familiar with safety, competition and clear communication?  Hard to match that.  The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is a national organization dedicated to training and educating United States citizens for responsible use of firearms and air guns through gun safety training, marksmanship training and certified competitions.

The CMP is a federally chartered 501(c)(3) corporation that places its highest priority on serving youth through gun safety and marksmanship activities that encourage personal growth and building life skills.

The program was created when a federal law was enacted in 1996 (Title 36 U. S. Code, 40701-40733) that created the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety, Inc. (CPRPFS, the formal legal name of the CMP), that mandates these key “functions for the corporation:

  1. To instruct citizens of the United States in marksmanship
  2. To promote practice and safety in the use of firearms
  3. To conduct competitions in the use of firearms and to award trophies, prizes, badges, and other insignia to competitors.

cmp2The law specifically states: “In carrying out the Civilian Marksmanship Program, the corporation shall give priority to activities that benefit firearms safety, training, and competition for youth and that reach as many youth participants as possible.”

Competitive marksmanship is a big part of CMP mission to reinforce firearms safety and enable competitors to further develop their marksmanship skills and in many cases, earn recognition for doing so.  In the information that follows you’ll find news and descriptions of upcoming matches, how to enter them and more information on course of fire and what you can expect from your participation.

If you’re new to competitive shooting, CMP and its affiliated clubs and organizations continually sponsor clinics and workshops to help get you up to speed. We highly recommend participating in the CMP – USAMU Small Arms Firing School for pistol and/or rifle during the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. By completing our one or two-day schools, you will learn the fundamentals of firearms safety and marksmanship.

Anyone interested in learning more about this great program may feel free to contact CMP with questions by email at competitions@thecmp.org, on the web at: http://thecmp.org/ or by phone at (419) 635-2141 ext. 706 or 714.