345 lines
20 KiB
Plaintext
345 lines
20 KiB
Plaintext
Combat Arms
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2869 Grove Way
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Castro Valley, California 94546-6709
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Telephone (415) 538-6544
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BBS Phone: (415) 537-1777
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How to Get an M1 Garand Through the DCM Program
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The following material is based on my experience and knowledge of the
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Department of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) program, articles in The American
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Rifleman and the obtaining of a genuine U.S. military M1 Garand directly
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from the U.S. Army for just $165.00.
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Qualifications
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1. You must be a U.S. citizen.
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2. You must be 18 years of age or older.
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3. You must be a member in good standing in a DCM-enrolled club or state
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association. Around here I suggest joining the Chabot Gun Club or the
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California Rifle & Pistol Club.
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4. You must have participated in highpower rifle competition and fired at
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least 120 rounds in not less than two (2) approved matches.
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What to do about shooting in the matches
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1. Join the Chabot Gun Club if not already a member. The dues are $50.00
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for the first year and are prorated if you join at sometime other than
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January 1st. The subsequent years are substantially less expensive.
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Telephone Chabot Gun Club at 415-569-0213 for details on joining.
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2. Next, call Ron Levesque (415-547-8656). He runs the DCM shooting
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program in this area. Ask Mr. Levesque (pronounced luh-veck) when the next
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DCM match will be and make a reservation over the phone with him to shot in
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that match. It is usually the 4th Sunday of the month.
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3. The match is held at the Chabot Gun Club in Anthony Chabot Regional
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Park on Redwood Road in Castro Valley. We have a map if you need directions
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to the range.
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4. Smart folks either have their spouse/roommate pack them a bag lunch or
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they bring enough money to buy something at the concession stand.
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Concession stand food is mediocre the world over, so think about packing a
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lunch. You'll be there until about noon if you are in string one or two and
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until about 3:00 p.m. if you are in string #3 or string #4 and hunger pains
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make shooting tough!
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5. At about 7:45 AM on the day of the match, show up at the 200 yard
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range with a "highpowered" rifle. What's a highpowered rifle, you ask?
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Well, it's one that fires a centerfire cartridge, such as .222, .223, 7mm,
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even .30 M1 Carbine, .308, .30-`06, etc. The rifle may be a bolt action
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model or semiautomatic. If it is semiautomatic, bring a couple of
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magazines. The weapon must be capable of holding 5 rounds with none in the
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chamber.
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6. In the first of the four shooting events in the match, you will be
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required to shoot 22 rounds slow fire from the standing position with no
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sling. The first two rounds are the sighting in rounds and may be fired
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from any position. You have 22 minutes (1 minute per round) to fire the 22
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rounds. The targets are always at 200 yards. I suggest you get you weapon
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sighted in at Livermore-Pleasanton Rod & Gun Club because they have a 200
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yard target. Practice shooting from an unsupported position. That means you
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can use a sling but no sandbag! Also, no scope is permitted on the weapon.
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If your weapon is magazine fed, you load an empty magazine and manually put
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one round in the chamber of the weapon (or position the round through the
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ejection port and sit it in the magazine), close the bolt and discharge the
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cartridge. This manual loading procedure seems to me to be geared towards
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equalizing an advantage over the bolt action weapons. Yes, it is a pain in
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the neck, but those are the rules and even the pros follow them and many of
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those shooters are using M1A's, etc.
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7. After every shot, the target will be pulled down and marked. The value
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of the shot will be indicated to you by the position of an orange disk set
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on the perimeter of the target. See the illustration below. For example, if
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the orange disk appears in the upper right corner of the target, your shot
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went somewhere in the 7 ring. When the target comes up, look for the
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position of the orange disk (for the value) and a white (if shot was in the
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black area) or black (if shot was outside the black area) disk to tell you
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the position of the shot. In our example of the 7 ring shot, you would be
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looking for a white disk somewhere outside the black target to tell you
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where you hit in the seven ring. If the orange disk is at the M position
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(12 o'clock) your shot was outside the 5 ring and worth zero points. Each
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shot for the record (which excludes the two sighting shots) is worth 10
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points. Therefore the highest possible score is 20 shots x 10 points = 200
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points. After all 22 rounds are fired (and remember that the first two were
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sighting shots and worth no point value in your actual score), you prepare
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for the sitting position.
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8. In the second of the four shooting events, you will fire 10 rounds
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rapid fire from the sitting position plus two sighting shots. You may use a
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sling. Each time the sighting shots are fired, the target is lowered and
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the shots recorded and marked with the orange disk and the white or black
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disk. After finishing the two sighting shots the targets are all lowered.
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You will be told to load two rounds in one magazine and eight rounds in
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another magazine. At Mr. Levesque's command, you will stand, load and, when
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all of the target are raised simultaneously, drop to a sitting position
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immediately and fire 10 rounds from the sitting position in 60 seconds. You
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have a lot of time, so use it. Nothing is dumber than to finish this event
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in 20 or 25 seconds. Use all the time and make every shot an aimed shot! At
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the conclusion of the sitting shots, the targets will be lowered, scored
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and marked and then raised. When they reappear, you'll see 10 (assuming
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that each of your 10 shots hit the target) little black and/or white disks
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in the places where you hit plus a green slender chalkboard that has
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written on it the number of X's, 10's, 9's, 8's, 7's, 6's and 5's you got.
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You cannot see the values on the chalkboard or the little marking disks
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very well without a spotting scope or binoculars.
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9. The third event requires that you fire 10 rounds rapid fire from the
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prone position in 70 seconds. You are permitted to use a sling. First, of
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course, you have two sighting shots. The target will be lowered after each
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sighting shot, recorded and raised. Then, just like in the sitting event,
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all targets are lowered. You will then be told to load one magazine with
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two rounds and another magazine with eight rounds. When all the targets are
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raised simultaneously, you have 70 seconds to complete the 10 shots. The
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targets are lowered and the shots scored and recorded as was done in step
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7. You now prepare yourself for the last shooting event.
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10. In the fourth and final event, you will fire 10 rounds (with two
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sighting rounds first) slow fire from the prone position (use of a sling is
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permitted). From the time you are told to commence firing, you have 12
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minutes to fire the two sighting shots plus the 10 record shots. Like in
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the standing slow fire event, the weapon must have an empty magazine in it
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and one round at a time is loaded and fired. After each shot the target is
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lowered, the score recorded and the target raised.
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11. You have now fired 50 rounds for points (for a maximum possible score
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of 500 points) plus eight sighting shots for a total of 58 rounds. Bring
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about 75 rounds with you. The concrete floor is hard, so it's a good idea
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to also bring a mat or blanket to lay on. If you already have a shooting
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jacket, bring it also but don't go buy one especially for this event.
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12. The hardest part for me was understanding the method they use to
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indicate to you where you hit the target. So, when you call Mr. Levesque to
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make your appointment for the match, tell him you want to fire in string #2
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or #4. This means you will get to pull and score the targets before
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shooting and that will make understanding the targets much easier. It helps
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tremendously if you bring a spotting scope or binoculars.
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13. The first thing that happens when you arrive is that you get in line
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and sign up and pay the fee ($8.00). At 9:00 a.m., string #1 of the match
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is held for the serious guys and gals. About 10:15 a.m. they will be
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finished and then string #2 (who pulled and scored targets for string #1)
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gets to shoot at about 10:30 a.m. When you sign up you'll be told which
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string you'll fire in if you did not make a reservation by phone with Mr.
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Levesque. Some shooters in strings #3 and #4 then leave after signing up at
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8:00 a.m. and later return. Since nothing ever goes smoothly in this world
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and things change, I suggest that you stick around. The first time you go
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to this match, watch the pros shoot and see how they do it. It'll help you
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when it's your turn. When string #2 is finished, string #3 begins shooting
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at about noon while string #4 pulls and scores targets. Then string #4
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shoots and string #3 pulls and scores targets for them. The last of the
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shooting for string #4 occurs about 2:45 p.m.
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14. Let's say you are in the second group to shoot (string #2), so you'll
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be pulling targets first. You will go down to the trench at the 200 yard
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line and mark the shooter's target as he/she shoots. Do a fair and helpful
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job because that person shooting will be the one who marks your target when
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you get to shoot! By the way, if a shot hits the dividing line between two
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values (e.g., the 8 ring and the 9 ring), the shooter is awarded the higher
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value.
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15. After the shooter is finished, you calculate his/her score and go back
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up to the firing line, where you ready yourself for your shooting period.
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16. Now you shoot. It is noteworthy that your score does not matter for
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the purposes of getting the M1 Garand. What matters is that you
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participated in the match. So don't get all embarrassed. It's tough to
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shoot offhand and you should practice if you want your score to be higher.
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17. After you have completed your shooting and target pulling sessions,
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you leave and head for home.
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The paper work and time required
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1. Sooner or later you will receive a copy of the official score results
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in the mail. Don't lose this because you must send it in to Washington to
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verify that you actually participated in the DCM approved match. The
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current rules require that you fire 120 rounds in approved matches. You
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just did 50 of them. Now you keep the score report for that 50 and need
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only 70 more rounds. That actually means that you have to participate in a
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total of three matches for 150 rounds to qualify to buy the rifle. So, go
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to two more matches and get two more score reports.
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2. Now gather together photocopies of the following items.
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a. Proof of age and U.S. citizenship. Acceptable items of proof are
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any one of the following documents:
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1. A copy of your birth certificate.
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2. A copy of your DD214.
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3. A copy of your voter registration card.
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4. A copy of the i.d. section of your U.S. issued passport.
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5. Proof of U.S. naturalization.
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b. Proof of participation in the DCM match.
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1. Send a photocopy of the bulletins you received showing your
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score. Do not send the original, in case things go astray
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and you have to re-submit your paperwork. Remember that you
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need score reports from three matches.
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2. Also acceptable for proof of highpower rifle marksmanship
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activity are any one of the following instead of item 2b1:
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i. A highpower rifle classification card issued by the
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NRA.
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ii. A certificate of completion of Small Arms Firing School
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for Rifle.
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iii. Proof of Distinguished Rifleman status.
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iv. Certified instructor cards for rifle (silhouette is not
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acceptable).
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3. Please note that military qualification records, hunter
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safety cards, Federal Firearms Licenses, etc. are not
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acceptable.
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c. Proof of current membership in a DCM enrolled club that is in
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good standing or in a state rifle association.
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1. This is a copy of your current Chabot Gun Club membership
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card, etc. Out of date membership is invalid.
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3. Write a letter requesting the purchase of a DCM M1 Garand to:
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Director of Civilian Marksmanship
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Department of the Army
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20 Massachusetts Avenue, N. W.
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Pulaski Building - Room 1205
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Washington, DC 20314-0100
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Enclose the photocopies detailed in item #2 above. The current
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Director is Colonel M.S. Gilchrist.
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4. Now the waiting begins. When the DCM gets your letter and photocopies,
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they'll review the documentation for correctness and, if you have sent all
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the required material, the DCM will mail you a "Purchase Firearm Packet" to
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complete. They normally ship that to you within a week of receiving your
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initial letter. The package includes a statement of intended use,
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fingerprint cards, and a request for disclosure of prior purchases under
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the program. You can only get one (1) M1 Garand under this program in your
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lifetime! If you have already purchased an M1 rifle from the Army, you may
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not purchase another. You must also certify that the purchase is for
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personal use and not for resale or other disposition.
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5. Go to your local police or sheriff office and get fingerprinted using
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the fingerprint cards that the DCM mailed you in the Purchase Firearm
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Packet. No other fingerprint card is acceptable. The law enforcement agency
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charges a fee for this, usually around $10.00.
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6. Mail all of the completed forms and fingerprint cards back to the DCM
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office. Also enclose a self addressed stamped postcard. DCM will complete
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the postcard and send it to you, thereby letting you know they received the
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package. When the DCM office has made a determination hat all forms are
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correctly prepared, they will send the fingerprint cards and DD Form 1518
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(Background Investigation) to the National Agency Check and Investigative
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Center (NACIC) for a background check. This process with NACIC can take up
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to six months because it is low priority, not because you're a bad guy!
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When the DCM finally hears from NACIC that you are cleared, then the DCM,
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within about two weeks of receiving the NACIC clearance, sends an "approval
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of purchase request data" to Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois. This is the
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government Rock Island Arsenal, not the commercial one. Rock Island will
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check their records to ascertain that you haven't already gotten an M1
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Garand through the program and will then mail you an invoice for $165.00
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and the necessary instructions. Do not send money until you are requested
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to do so! From the time DCM sends the form to Rock Island Arsenal until you
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get the invoice from Rock Island is about two months.
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7. When you finally get the invoice for $165.00 from Rock Island Arsenal,
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follow their instructions to the letter! When Rock Island receives your
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check they will, within about a two month period, send shipping
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instructions to Anniston Army Depot in Anniston, Alabama.
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8. Once Anniston Army Depot gets the approval from Rock Island Arsenal to
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ship, Anniston will process the order and ship you an M1 Garand via U.S.
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Mail (not UPS - this is the U.S. Army doing the shipping and they use the
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U.S. Post Office).
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9. From the time you shoot at the last of the three DCM matches until the
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postman delivers your M1 Garand typically takes 11 to 14 months, so don't
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get antsy and start bothering DCM. It's a waste of your time and theirs
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too.
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10. Your total expenditure (assuming you are not already a member of
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Chabot Gun Club) will be $50.00 for Chabot Gun Club, $8.00 for the shooting
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match sign up fee times three matches for $24.00, $10.00 for fingerprints,
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about $1.00 in postage, and $165.00 for the M1 Garand for a total cost of
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$250.00 plus the ammunition you fired plus the cost of the cleaning for
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those three matches. If you came into my shop and ordered an M1 Garand, I
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could get new one in about 10 days and it would cost about $750.00. A used
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one, when I have it, goes for $399.95. So if you have more time than money,
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go the DCM route. If you have more money than time, ask me to order an M1
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Garand for you.
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11. Now that you are going to get one, what is an M1 Garand? It is a 9.5
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pound, wooden stocked, semiautomatic, gas operated, shoulder fired rifle
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that shoots a .30-`06 cartridge from an 8 round clip. It was developed in
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the late 1930s, designed by John Garand and used in WWII and Korea by U.S.
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forces. The basic design was later modified and became the M-14 in .308
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with a 20 round magazine. No, you can't easily covert an M1 to an M-14. The
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M1 Garand is still used by third world countries. The rifle is used by some
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shooters in the National Matches at Camp Perry in Ohio and is capable of
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accurately shooting 1,000 yard targets. Commercially, the M1 Garand is made
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today by Springfield Armory Inc. in Geneseo, Illinois. Match grade versions
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of the M1 Garand are available. If you decide to order one, please come by
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the shop or call in using your MasterCard or Visa credit card.
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Conclusion
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I hope that this information regarding the details of the DCM M1
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Garand program proves helpful to you. I would appreciate it if you would
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please let me know the date you shot in the last of the three required DCM
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matches, the date you initially sent you first paperwork to the DCM office
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in Washington and the date you finally received the M1 Garand. Please try
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to participate in the matches whether you want a DCM rifle or not. They are
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a lot of fun and a great challenge. You will also meet some fascinating
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people and your marksmanship will improve a lot. If I can help in any way,
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please let me know.
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Richard M. Bash
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January, 1989
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Another file downloaded from: NIRVANAnet(tm)
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& the Temple of the Screaming Electron Jeff Hunter 510-935-5845
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The Salted Slug Strange 408-454-9368
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Burn This Flag Zardoz 408-363-9766
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realitycheck Poindexter Fortran 510-527-1662
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Lies Unlimited Mick Freen 415-583-4102
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Tomorrow's 0rder of Magnitude Finger_Man 415-961-9315
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My Dog Bit Jesus Suzanne D'Fault 510-658-8078
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New Dork Sublime Demented Pimiento 415-566-0126
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