What is the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP)?

There is a concept that exists in society, and unfortunately, it is even more prevalent in the firearms community. That concept is assumed knowledge. One perfect example is the Civilian Marksmanship Program. Many new gun owners see conversations about the CMP but have no idea exactly what it is. Well, today, we fix that. Today, we answer, “What is the Civilian Marksmanship Program?”

The CMP was Established to Promote Marksmanship

In 1903, the U.S. Congress established the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). The goal was to provide military arms to civilians for the purposes of practice, familiarization, and marksmanship training. If they need to recruit them in the future, a ready pool of experienced rifle shooters will be available. First administered by the War Department and later by the U.S. Army, the CMP provides rifles and ammunition to affiliated clubs, conducts various shooting competitions, and sells U.S. military surplus rifles, ammunition, and accessories to qualified individuals. In 1996, Congress created the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice & Firearms Safety (CPRPFS) as an independent nonprofit organization to take over these duties from the Army.

CMP National Matches

The most popular and well-known CMP-sponsored competitive event is The National Matches, held annually since 1903. These matches are also held with the NRA’s national rifle and pistol championships, attracting over 6,000 shooters during weeks of competition each summer. During the matches, the CMP conducts small-arms firing schools and awards trophies to the individual and team champions. Regional championships and competitions are held at CMP-affiliated clubs nationwide throughout the year.

Civilian Marksmanship Program Rifle Sales

While many people enjoy competitive shooting, the most popular aspect of CMP is its rifle sales. U.S. military firearms retired from active service, including hard-to-find, rare, and collectible samples, will occasionally become available through the CMP. In the past, this has included the legendary WWII M1 Garands, M1903 Springfields (from early pre-WWI samples to updated WWII guns), WWI M1917 Enfields, M1 Carbines, military and commercial .22 caliber target rifles, and commercial target air rifles.

The real attraction here is that these are not imported parts guns but genuine military issues, checked and refurbished when needed by CMP and sold with CMP paperwork. Many of these guns are retired from military warehouses, but that supply has largely dried up. Other guns have been returned to the U.S. government from veterans groups and have been used for drill or ceremonial purposes. Still, others are guns that the U.S. had loaned to various friendly armies and were returned to U.S. stockpiles.

Eligibility Requirements

The eligibility requirements for purchasing guns or ammunition from the CMP are fairly basic, and the rifle can be delivered directly to the purchaser by mail without going through an FFL dealer. You must provide proof of U.S. citizenship and your age and be legally permitted to own a firearm. You must also be a member of a CMP-affiliated club. CMP provides a list of clubs anyone can join for a small fee via their website. The club requirement is also satisfied if you have served in the military or are a veteran or law enforcement organization member. Finally, you have a requirement to shoot. This can be satisfied by submitting proof of prior military or law enforcement experience, participating in a shooting competition, possessing a concealed carry permit, or other training involving live fire.

Various Grades to Choose From

Their website lists what guns are available and separates them into various conditions, with the prices for each group listed. This can range from a barreled action to a rare collector’s piece. The rack-grade guns are the lowest grade for a complete rifle, but even these have been inspected, headspaced and test-fired. If ordering by mail, you will get a random pick from the category you selected, and the rack-grade guns can be pretty rough. Fortunately, CMP also operates two offices, one at Camp Perry, Ohio, and the other in Anniston, Alabama, open to the public. You are welcome to peruse the rack of rifles and pick out the one you like best. CMP’s armorers will even assist you in measuring throat erosion and so forth, so you get the best deal.

Civilian Marksmanship Program – Yes, it’s Real

CMP will occasionally receive rare samples of other U.S. military arms, and it is well worth subscribing to their e-newsletter for news of their latest guns. In addition to rifles, CMP also sells rare and collectible bayonets, gear, and ammunition. So, in summary, yes – The Civilian Marksmanship Program is real. Yes, you can buy authentic classic firearms from them. Yes, you can compete in national matches. And yes, you can get real-world training.