Rifle Competition Events Major Land Sniper’s Cup

[WVa Shooter]

Black Bear Shooting Club is proud to announce the Inaugural Major Land Sniper’s Cup. This match will place October 8th and 9th 2022 in the Blue Ridge mountains just east of Gladstone, Virginia. With target ranges from 300 to 2000 yards the mountain wind and high angle shots will be a true test for the modern rifleman.
The honorary match director is one of the most influential men in the Sniper community. Major Land joined the Marine Corps at the age of 17. Land went on to become a Staff Sergeant and drill instructor before his selection to Officer Candidate School in 1959. As a commissioned officer assigned to the 4th Marine Regiment Land demonstrated his aptitude for competitive shooting and was selected for the Marine Corps Rifle Team. In 1961 he founded the first modern Marine sniper course. Land went to Vietnam as the officer in charge of the 1st Marine Division Sniper Teams. It was in Vietnam he was the C.O. of legendary sniper, Carlos Hathcock. After Vietnam Land was assigned as the Marksmanship Coordinator for the Marine Corps. That assignment made him responsible for marksmanship training across the Corps. When the Corps Sniper program was canceled in 1972, he worked with fellow Marines to reestablish the MOS for the Marine Sniper. His effort resulted in the permanent Marine Corps Sniper School at Quantico Virginia. It is still in operation today and produces some of the finest marksmen in the world. In addition to his Marine service Major Land worked as the Secretary of the NRA for 21 years. His dedication to the craft of rifle marksmanship is legendary.

 

[WVa Shooter]

Black Bear Shooting Club is proud to announce that Andy Slade will be joining the staff for the Inaugural Major Land Sniper’s Cup. Andy currently runs the training company Rifleman’s Path and is a top competitor in the Pro Division of the Precision Rifle Series. He is also the co-owner of the Virginia Precision Rifle Club and has directed their matches since 2015. With nearly 40 matches under his belt to include National Level Precision Rifle Series matches Andy brings a tremendous amount of experience to this effort. Andy became a Marine in 2010 as a Combat Engineer/Urban breacher. (1371 MOS). As a very talented shooter he became a Combat Marksmanship Trainer. (0931 MOS). He also received USMC Meritorious Mast for shooting performance and instruction. Andy has multiple top 5 finishes at the Mammoth Sniper Challenge and while representing the USMC scored a first place finish in 2019 with his partner Steve Thompson. An avid competitor with multiple wins in all styles of long range shooting he is currently in the top 5 for the PRS Pro division. With Andys commitment to faith and family as the foundation for his life there is little doubt the Major Land Sniper’s Cup will be a must shoot event.

 

[WVa Shooter]

Major Land’s Sniper Cup

Course information teaser.

A snipers role in todays environment is complex and requires a vast ranging set of skills. Often shooting is only a small part of the overall training mission. Training time on the rifle is often limited both in round count and to traditional flat, square ranges. There are many competitions across the country that brings traditional sniper skill tests to their matches. Land navigation, stalking, observation and more are part of those competitions. The Sniper’s Cup will not be one of those traditional sniper matches. It will instead be solely focus on the shooter and his marksmanship skills. A true shooting event to showcase the mastery of his equipment and how its deployment. Fundamental marksmanship and training is the legacy that Major Land established for the Marine Corps. It will be here that we focus on for his match.

While this will be an individually scored match there will also be a team component to it. You and a partner will approach and engage hostile targets. You will locate, range and evaluate wind as a team. Then you will alternate shooting for score while spotting for each other. With a variety of positions consisting of prone, rooftop, vehicles and urban hides it will have a very realistic blend of urban and field shooting. The challenges comes in the way of time limits to deploy and engage targets. Familiarity with your equipment and the ability to deploy it will be a key component for your success. The competitor will need to quickly determine his plan of action and then deploy his chosen equipment and send rounds under time constraints. Stages will be blind approach. The teams will also encounter several surprise danger close / ambush targets on approach that will require swift pistol engagements. The match location in the Blue Ridge mountains will provide both angles that will need to be accounted for as well as the difficult mountain wind. This match will focus on the mastery not only of your equipment but your ability to identify and range targets and apply a rapid wind assessments. The shooter will then engage targets from danger close to 2000 yards. Ranges will be provided on all targets beyond 1200 yards. With the COF design and refinement underway we expect it to be a truly enjoyable and rewarding event.

One additional item to cover will be caliber choice. While the Sniper’s Cup will have extended range targets you can expect a good blend of distances. It will have shorter distance with small targets to test your precision as well as a good blend of intermediate targets in the 700 to 1200 yard range. With no high round count stages any of the fast 6.5 calibers up to a good 30 caliber would be a solid choice.

Those participating can also expect an absolutely beautiful venue with exceptional hospitality and meals. Follow the Black Bear Shooting Club on Facebook for additional updates and match information.

 

[ForgeValley]

Any word on when registration will open? PractiScore?

 

[WVa Shooter]

Look for Practiscore registration to open August 16, 2022

 

[dscl]

This sounds amazing, unfortunately I have zero experience with high angle shooting

 

[WVa Shooter]

 

[WVa Shooter]

 

[WVa Shooter]

 

[WVa Shooter]

 

[WVa Shooter]

 

[ForgeValley]

Going to make the trip over for this one or Poke the Bear... If I come to this one probably bring up my 338 Norma, longest range mag fed I have.

Actually, just read about the movers and positional, may want to go a little lighter in caliber.

 

[357Max]

I'm down for this. 6.5 Creedmoor with 147's should do with 40moa cant.

If anyone in MD, Delaware, VA, or PA is going to shoot this and doesn't already have a team partner PM me.
Might be able to team up for a Gaurdian or MDPRS match prior to this one & work out comms etc.

Gear wise I'm topped out @ 10.5x on Bino's, but otherwise good.

SOLD - I’ve got a partner & we’re signed up for this.

 

[WVa Shooter]

So many great sponsors stepping up for this event!!! The course of fire description gives you an idea of round count, calibers, and distances. Some additional items being worked in as they commit. One being we now have Sim IS as a stage sponsor. They will be setting up the autonomous running targets. Colt, Daniel Defense will be on hand with some weapon systems for us to add into the match. The Practiscore going live date will be August 16. Check out our FB page as we are adding sponsors and information daily. One very exciting addition comes from the NRA and American Rifleman TV. They will be on hand to televise the match!!!

 

[mountainman308]

So many great sponsors stepping up for this event!!! The course of fire description gives you an idea of round count, calibers, and distances. Some additional items being worked in as they commit. One being we now have Sim IS as a stage sponsor. They will be setting up the autonomous running targets. Colt, Daniel Defense will be on hand with some weapon systems for us to add into the match. The Practiscore going live date will be Sept 16. Check out our FB page as we are adding sponsors and information daily. One very exciting addition comes from the NRA and American Rifleman TV. They will be on hand to televise the match!!!


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Three questions:
Will registration be open on August 16, as previously stated, or September 16, as stated above, and at what time will registration open?
Do we know what the registration fee will be?
How do we feel about braced pistols? I have a Flux Raider that I want to try running as a PDW and this could be fun.

Looking forward to it!

 

[WVa Shooter]

August 16. We will post a link to Practiscore. Look on the Black Bear Facebook for all kinds of additional info. The fee is 295 for the match. That will include 2 lunches and a spectacular dinner from Two Drummers Smokehouse. No on the brace pistol setup. You will have you firearm holstered and ready at every stage. 15-25 yards with one longer stage.

 

[WVa Shooter]

Practiscore date is AUGUST 16th. I apologize for the incorrect post. I was working a production schedule at the day job. .

The movers will be on the Mountain !!!!

 

[TheOtherAndrew]

I wish I had come across this earlier. Already signed up for SUC Oct 21 so can't afford this, but sounds like it'll be interesting!

Next time....

 

[WVa Shooter]

Link coming soon for the registration on August 16! Visit our Facebook page for more event details.

 

[Shoots 700's]

love to shoot but the same weekend as the PRS finale

 

[Olen_4504]

love to shoot but the same weekend as the PRS finale

The regional finale yeah, same reason I can’t shoot it

 

[WVa Shooter]

Good luck to all you guys shooting the PRS match. Hopefully the dates next year work out for you to give this a try. It’s definitely a different skill set and equipment setup.

 

[mountainman308]

What time does registration open tomorrow?

 

[WVa Shooter]

It will go live tomorrow at 1800 hours!!

 

[mountainman308]

In! So damn excited. I’m going to get my ass handed to me but I’ll learn a bunch.

 

[WVa Shooter]

 

[Statie07]

@Katahdin

 

[WVa Shooter]

Prize Table

It goes without saying that a match of this magnitude will have a prize table. And not an ordinary table but one that rises to the prestigious level of this event. In addition to a strong showing of traditional match sponsors we also have some very prestigious DOD caliber partners. As we continue to announce new sponsors you will see some new names stepping up to support this event. Keep in mind we are still 6 plus weeks out and are adding daily to the already impressive collection of prizes.

Just a couple teasers to let you get a feel for what our generous sponsors are providing.

Top finishers will be receiving some absolutely mind blowing trophy’s ! Their will also be rifles. Truly spectacular rifles from Accuracy International, Maxim Defense , Colt and more. There will be Suppressors. Kestrel has sent us a large care package with several very nice items. 5700 Elite with AB, HUDs and more. Vortex, Grays Ops, Area 419, Otis, Hawk Hill, Huber Triggers, Steiner Optics, Badger Ordnance,Applied Ballistics, Barrett Rifles, Short Action Custom, Terminus Actions, and the list goes on. Shooters will walk the table in finish order. As we finalize commitments and receive deliveries I will continue to announce the sponsorship partners. A number of these fine sponsors will be on hand with us at both the range and the vendor row.

Our staff is commitment to a truly spectacular event. Our event partners are offering overwhelming support for the Inaugural Major Land Sniper’s Cup!!!!!

 

[WVa Shooter]

A little history leading up to the match.

This event has decades of shooting talent lining up to be here.! You know we did something right when the Wiley veterans start dusting of the rifles. Shooters from all backgrounds will be on the mountain to honor a true legend. It by no means is a military match. But we have been fortunate to draw both current and former military shooters that have been influenced by Major Lands and his impact on shooting.

The Army Established it’s Sniper program in 1987. 6 Candidates where chosen and sent to the Marine Sniper School at Quantico. Below is Ron Kuykendall who is the current president of the Army Sniper Association. On the right is Major Land. 4 of the original 6 will be in the house for the Major Land Sniper’s Cup!!! In addition we have some absolutely wicked shooters that will on the Mountain. Army Sniper School Cadre, active duty snipers teams, Coast Guard MSRT team (look those guys up ). We will have the cadre from the National Guard Sniper School. These guys are super heavyweight. The Marine Rifle team will be on the mountain, and in the spirit of Halloween some boogeymen Tier 1 teams that don’t exist. . On the civilian side we will see an equally impressive list of heavyweight shooters. If you considered yourself a bit of a novice long range shooter don’t hesitate to join us. You will be surrounded all weekend by talent. The exposure to these shooters and the helpful tips and tricks you will pick up will be priceless. You do not want to miss this event !!!!

 

[WVa Shooter]

The Major Land Sniper’s Cup continues to grow. If you are a long range shooter looking for events that are pure shooting without all the foolishness this one is for you. The COF is best described as walking an easy par 3. The pistol play is purely for entertainment so even a novice will have no issues engaging these targets. The rifle work is from very traditional positions that require no special gear. Range finder work is only to 1000 yards. Beyond that is provided to you. The target directions are simple and locations are very easy to see. (Nothing hidden). THE BULK OF THE TARGETS ARE 100-1000 YARDS but you will have an opportunity to stretch you rifle to 2000 yards on a few stages. This is a small number so its definitely not an ELR event. Looking at the registry the 6 and 6.5 Creeds outnumber all others by a wide margin. You don’t need a cannon to shoot this event. I shot the entire target package with my 6.5-47 with a 135JLK.
We have a nice variety of manufactured toys to play with as well. Colt, FN, Maxim Defence, Flir, HuxWrx, Leanardo DRS, IR tools, all coming together for a truly speacial night event that is free to out competitors!! Some are names you may not be familiar with but are big players in the military community. A unique chance to shoot some state of the art equipment. FREE!!! this will start friday evening.

Another piece of the prize is a wind clinic!!! On Friday afternoon we will offer our competitors a wind clinic on the mountain. This alone is worth the trip! Emil Praslick along with Major Land will be talking wind and rifle marksmanship. Not only do we have these two Legends of the game on hand but will have a host of gifted instructors on the mountain. Our match director Andy Slade is a solid rifle instructor that many of you know. We will also have Scott Peterson who is the Army Marksmanship Unit team Captain here. From the National Guard Sniper School we have two of the very best in SSG Ben Cotten and SSG Allen Smith The Army we have 4 of the original instructors that opened the Sniper School at Ft. Benning. We have some truly spectacular military teams coming as well. Rangers, SF group teams, Marine rifle team and more. The civilians registered is a list of tremendously competitive guys as well. The shear amount of rifle knowledge and precision shooting that you will be exposed to will make this a real learning experience for shooters of all levels. This will be a outstanding chance to learn from some of the absolute best in the game. Come join in on the fun!!!

 

[Killswitch Engage]

what a fantastic and beyond challenging match. i am very glad to have attended this. it was full of high caliber individuals. the course of fire was bad ass and beyond tough. target engagement probably averaged 900yds with one out to 1966yds. the sponsors, vendors, RO's and staff along with the land owners were all beyond amazing with that true southern hospitality. hats off to andy slade and his crew for a refreshing no jersey or prs barricade having real deal match.

 

[Statie07]

Agreed, I’ll
Be back next year!

 

[Shoots 700's]

I am pissed I missed it, will surely be there next year.

 

[NovaHunter]

I was out of country that weekend. Definitely will want to make this match next year. Hopefully they do a Spring and Fall match!

 

[TheOtherAndrew]

Do we have an idea of dates for this match @ Black bear in 2023? Im out of state, trying to plan ahead - thanks!