If you’ve always wanted to try something outside of your own discipline without the hassle of buying or borrowing new equipment or are just looking for something fun to do between games, come check out CMP’s new laser shooting simulators. The simulators are housed in the Gary Anderson CMP Competence Center and is the perfect place to cool off after a hot game in the blazing sun.
The simulators have two projection screens and many options for firearms, including M4 rifles, M17 pistols, shotguns, and a sniper weapon system. The simulators have capabilities for civil and military qualifications and police training, with a mobile system that can be taken on the road to competitions and matches. The permanent setup in CMP operates with the game function and costs $5 to run three simulations.
The gun acts as the controller for the game, so you can aim at the screen to choose the course and calibrate the firearm’s sights before entering the simulated course. There are different levels of difficulty depending on the abilities of each person. A CMP staff member will be present to assist with the operation of the game.
“So far it has been a great success,” said Brad Donoho, Smallbore manager at CMP. We have used it during the CMP Regional Air Rifle Championships as well as the Camp Perry Open and the JROTC Championship. We had a packed room and people were cheering and even booing their peers at times,” he added.
Some competitors and their families show up for a round, and others are in and out all day, playing match after match. Ashton Asbell was one person who couldn’t get enough. When asked how many games he played, he said he lost count! Asbell was attending the 3P Air Rifle Championship with his team, the Patriots Shooting Club, and said, “It reminds me of home in Virginia, because I can go out there and shoot all kinds of different things.” When asked if he would recommend it to others to try, he smiled and gave a resounding “Absolutely.”
The future of the simulator is in line with the future of youth shooting sports. It is a good tool to show junior competitors some of the other things they can do outside of their own discipline within shooting sports. Donoho said of the junior competitors, “They get to try high-powered pistols, service pistols, action pistols, and shotguns. They can play around with this and find out what they enjoy and maybe they could continue shooting sports after their high school career.”
Of course, the simulator is for everyone, not just for the young. So come and try it and have fun!
CMP simulators are available anytime at the Gary Anderson CMP Competence Center when open and open to the public. View the daily schedule at https://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-NM-Air-Gun-Event-Schedule.pdf.
Don’t forget that national air pistol events are also opportunities to have fun and compete during national games. Visit https://thecmp.org/cmp-matches/national-matches-air-gun-events/ for more details.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program is a federally chartered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. It is dedicated to firearms safety and marksmanship training and the promotion of marksmanship competition for United States citizens. To learn more about the CMP and its programs, log on to www.TheCMP.org.