BAM match

[Jeb Stuart Montana]

For those who have set up BAM matches, what is the course of fire?

[Garrison Joe]

There is NO standard course of fire for Bolt Action Military matches (BAMM).  The match director, if they are being shooter-friendly, should publish the course of fire that they have decided to use with any match invitation.  That way, the shooter can come with proper ammo and any other equipment that may be allowed.

Shooting a few BAMM matches is the best way to find out how to put on one.  Not everyone has that much ability to travel to the bigger Wild Bunch matches where BAM matches are held (like EOT or Land Run, for example).  Yes, I have set up up at EOT as a BAM match director.  So -  I'll describe the general approach I've seen at four different venues, and used for EOT. 

BAMM is usually considered to be a "combat-shooting" match, using, of course, WW II or earlier military rifle designs.   Because many ranges have no more than about 100 or 200 yard bay lengths, the setting of targets out to those distances is common.  Shorter than 60 yards or so, usually is not considered much of a challenge other than just working the action and reloading.  Use of fairly strong targets and stands is needed, as a military rifle of those times can throw a cast bullet of 150 grains or so at up to 2000 FPS.  Jacketed bullets usually are not allowed due to damage to all but heavy armor steel plates, and the facts that folks love to hear the targets ring and don't like tramping down 150 yards to patch paper targets, or reset heavy knockdown targets.

Since some of the "poster boy" rifles for BAMM are Mauser 98s and Springfield 1903 designs, and they have 5 round built-in magazines, usually the match consists of shooting 10 or 15 rounds in sets of 5 shots, which will take about 40 to 60 seconds, usually with the reloads "on the clock".   If possible, target distance is varied to encourage understanding use of sights and hold-offs.    Sometimes using shooting sticks or benches is allowed, but some of the more fun matches either shoot all rounds off-hand unsupported, or use a variety of standard military shooting positions, like kneeling, sitting and off-hand.   Prone, not so much if you will require shooters to get into position and recover after shooting, all while on the clock (consider your shooters' physical capabilities).

Scoring is USUALLY like most long-range rifle matches - number of hits during the run, with ties decided by lowest time to get those hits.  I've shot in one BAMM that scored it like a main-match stage (lowest time after adding in penalty times for misses), but then the match rewards speed over accuracy (which was not the design purpose of bolt action rifles - to "Project Power At Distance").

So, because of a variety of potential course layout, number of rounds fired, target distance, shooting positions and even the scoring method, now you may understand why you want to publish the course of fire to be used AHEAD OF THE TIME THAT FOLKS TRAVEL TO THE MATCH.  However, I've not seen one yet which accomplished that.  So plan ahead.  I usually take at least 50 rounds of ammo loaded to 1800 FPS to a BAMM, a rifle that I have sighting dope for 50 to 200 yards (even 300), several stripper clips, shooting sticks, a mat, and a spotting scope.

One of the biggest deterrents to getting good attendance at BAM matches is the need for shooters to reload fairly accurate, rifle caliber, moderate power cast bullet loads - not something many folks know how to do.  And commercial ammo loaded like that is real hard to find. Even if the venue has a suitable bay or rifle range and strong steel to shoot BAMM on.

good luck, GJ

Edited February 1 by Garrison Joe