Sorry for the Int Sniper Comp sidetrack, but since it was brought up,
AKA 2011:
"For the first time in the eleven-year history of the U.S. Army International Sniper Competition, all competitors will use the same sniper rifle and optics of equal power. The new rules are designed to "level the playing field, so it isn't so much an equipment race," said Capt. Daniel Wilcox, who overseas Army Sniper School at Benning as commander of C Company, 2nd Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment."
AKA 2012:
(1) Service class limits sniper teams to compete utilizing only their unit’s assigned sniper equipment according to their TDA/TO&E. Any team that is found to have an excess of custom equipment will be moved to the open class. The USASS has the final say in all equipment matters.
(2) The open class is open to all competitors and is for teams that choose not to use weapons that are not part of a unit’s TDA/TO&E limited to .338 Lapua, 250 grain.
So the decision making continues, try to level the playing field to make it a "fair competition", or open the doors to allow the competitors to push the limits (and the heck with the "fair competition").
Fortunately SOCOM still has the COTS card to play, so they will at least continue to move forward, not so sure about the rest of the regular Joes.
I hope the competitions continue, not because anyone will leave with a trophy, but because it will bring the best shooters together to share TTP and push the gear boundaries forward.
