US Army Combat Pistol Qualification – One Day (Camp Atterbury, IN)

US Army Combat Pistol Qualification Overview

Prerequisites: Suggested—Revere’s Riders Pistol 100 (Basic Pistol) or similar. If you plan to draw from the holster at this event, you should have prior training in how to do so safely such as Revere’s Riders Pistol 145 (Intro to Defensive Pistol) or similar. This is not an introductory event and involves quickly engaging “pop-up” targets. No formal instruction will be provided.

Pistol and Ammunition Required: A drop-safe pistol (centerfire is recommended but rimfire should be fine as well) in any of the following calibers: .22LR, 9x19mm, .38/.357 Magnum, .40 S&W and .45 ACP ONLY (we are told that .22LR is suitable for the computerized targets, but we have never actually used that caliber; if you bring a .22LR pistol it is recommended that you also bring a centerfire pistol as a backup). If you bring a pistol chambered in any other caliber, be prepared to be a spectator.

Older single action pistols manufactured before the 1980s and lacking a transfer bar safety are the most common type of pistol that lack drop safe design features, as do some military surplus imports from Eastern bloc countries and Taurus PT-series pistols not fixed during an international safety recall in 2015. These pistols may discharge if dropped and pose a potential safety hazard to our volunteers and students, and are not permitted. If you have concerns about the safety features of your pistol you should have it inspected by an armorer or gunsmith before class.

Incendiary ammunition is prohibited; otherwise, there are no other restrictions regarding ammunition type beyond the caliber restrictions detailed above.

Required Equipment: You will be required to have the following equipment to participate in this event:

• drop-safe pistol chambered in .22LR, 9x19mm, .38/.357 Magnum, .40 S&W or .45 ACP
• minimum of 500 rounds of ammunition in your pistol’s caliber (more is always better)
• minimum of 3 pistol magazines (if you wish to fire the US Army Combat Pistol Qualification per regulations, you will need magazines of at least 7 round capacity; as with ammunition, more magazines are better)
• hearing protection
• eye protection
• plenty of your preferred method of hydration (both plain water and something to replace electrolytes you will lose via sweating is ideal)
• lunch (leaving base for lunch is not feasible)
• snacks

Optional Equipment: The following optional equipment may be helpful to you during this event but is not required:

• holster, mag carriers and gun belt for your pistol; note that your holster and belt must satisfy the following requirements:
  • either IWB or OWB (no appendix, small-of-the-back, shoulder, etc. holsters will be allowed)
  • holster must position your pistol between the 3 and 5 o’clock position on your waist
  • holster must correctly fit your pistol
  • holster must completely cover the trigger guard of your pistol
  • holster must not collapse when pistol is withdrawn
  • your belt must adequately support the weight of your pistol (this generally excludes nearly all belts not expressly designed for concealed carry use)
  • event staff reserve the right to deny use of any holster deemed a safety risk
• magazine loader (Maglula or similar)
• folding chair
• sunscreen and/or bug spray
• a hat with brim to protect from flying brass and the sun
• a towel or other suitable item to place between your pistol and the concrete firing line (if you are shooting from the compressed- or low-ready, you will be clearing your pistol and placing it at the firing line between courses of fire)
• if you wish to collect your own brass, bring whatever containers/equipment you desire for that purpose. All brass not collected by event participants will be collected by us and disposed of appropriately

Prohibited Equipment: The following equipment WILL NOT BE ALLOWED at this event:

• any pistol chambered for a caliber other than .22LR, 9x19mm, .38/.357 Magnum, .40 S&W or .45 ACP (this is per Camp Atterbury regulations)
• incendiary ammunition
• holster not meeting the above stated requirements

Event Details

This event is held on the military side of Camp Atterbury (NOT the public Atterbury Shooting Complex north of Old Hospital Road) and we will be on an active military installation. As such, we may have our scheduled access removed as late as the day before the event. As the US Army Combat Pistol Qualification ranges are actively used to qualify military personnel on their sidearms, events utilizing those ranges are the most likely to have schedule changes.

Combat Pistol Qualification Course of Fire

You will engage the official US Army Combat Pistol Qualification COF (“course of fire”) plus any other COFs that are loaded to the range control computer systems (unfortunately, we are not allowed to enter our own COFs into the range control computer systems). This COF is as follows:

• Stage 1 (1 magazine, 7 rounds)—shooter engages 5 targets presented for 3 seconds each at varying distance
• Stage 2 (2 magazines, 1+7 rounds)—shooter engages 6 targets presented for 3-5 seconds each at varying distance (including one double presentation); 8 seconds are allowed for the magazine change before the next target is raised
• Stage 3 (1 magazine, 7 rounds)—shooter engages 5 targets presented for 3-5 seconds each at varying distance (including one double presentation)
• Stage 4 (1 magazine, 5 rounds)—shooter engages 4 targets presented for 2-4 seconds each at varying distance (including one double presentation)
• Stage 5 (3 magazines, 1+7+5 rounds)—shooter engages 10 targets presented for 2-4 seconds each at varying distance (including three double presentations); 8 seconds are allowed for each magazine change before the next target is raised

This COF presents 30 total targets to the shooter who has 40 rounds at his disposal (2 extra rounds per stage); scoring is via number of target hits and is categorized as follows:

• Expert—26 to 30
• First Class—21 to 25
• Second Class—16 to 20
• Unqualified—0 to 15

The below video from a previous event at the Camp Atterbury pistol range will give you a good idea of what this event entails:

US Army Combat Pistol Qualification Range

The US Army Combat Pistol Qualification range is designed specifically to accommodate the US Army Combat Pistol Qualification Course (CPQC). Consequently, the range extends to 30 yards and targets are computer controlled and scored. Targets are simulated torsos attached to computer-controlled lifters which raise the target from horizontal behind a small berm to vertical. Hits on the target are automatically scored by the range computer system.

Drawing from the holster will be allowed at this event for those that have the proper holster and can demonstrate a safe draw and re-holster of their pistol. Those who do not wish to draw from the holster may begin each pistol course of fire from the compressed- or low-ready position.

No Formal Instruction

While there will be no formal instruction at this event, experienced firearms instructors will be present and can provide limited instruction as needed. However, this is not a training event and participants should not expect to receive extensive instruction.

Contact the Event Director with any questions prior to registering.

History of Camp Atterbury, Battle of the Bulge, First Lieutenant Samuel Woodfill

We will take brief breaks throughout the day to present some history of Camp Atterbury itself, exploits of the 106th Infantry Division (the “Golden Lions”) during the Battle of the Bulge as well as the story of First Lieutenant Samuel Woodfill who is one of 67 Medal of Honor recipients born in the state of Indiana.

Additional Event Information

Pre-registration is Required

All participants must purchase tickets by the DEADLINE of 5:00 PM on April 24, 2021.  Absolutely no registrations will be allowed after this deadline.

The unique venue for this event requires that we share your name and other personal information you submit to Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center (CAJMTC), Military Police and the Range Control office. Your information will not be used in any manner other than to allow your admittance to the installation and to contact you regarding this event. Pre-registration is required so that we can forward your information to CAJMTC in time for the event.

You are also responsible for reading the below additional range information specific to Camp Atterbury. Please keep in mind that we are using a military facility and military rules and discipline are in force. Camp Atterbury is an active military installation, as such we may have our scheduled access removed as late as the day before the event. If that happens (it has not in the past) we will contact all participants to reschedule for a later date or issue a refund.

Refund Policy

Event will be held RAIN or SHINE!

Refunds will only be issued for this event due to:

• cancellation of the event by military authorities
• fewer than 8 tickets are sold

Absolutely no refunds will be given for any other reason.

Additional Range Information

Arrival Time

You MUST Arrive On Time

Plan to arrive NO LATER than 7:45AM. Anyone arriving later than this will not be allowed to participate in the event and your event fees will not be refunded. This is due to the need to meet at Range Control and proceed to the range as a group. We will not wait for you; plan to be early.

Base Firearms Policy

CAJMTC firearms policy—NO LOADED FIREARMS PERMITTED ON BASE. Concealed carry is NOT ALLOWED on base and you may only load a firearm while on a designated range.

Before you proceed to to the base entrance and attempt to pass through security, make sure that all firearms in your vehicle and on your person (don’t forget your concealed carry sidearm) are unloaded, in a secure case and separated from your ammunition. This is generally Indiana state law (see IC 35-47-2-1).

If you are refused entry to the base for any reason, your event fees will not be refunded.

Directions to Range Control

You will be required to pass through the Camp Atterbury main gate to access the military side of the base. When asked, tell gate security that you are there for the Revere’s Riders event along with any other information gate security requests.

IMPORTANT—do NOT attempt to go to the range on your own. There are numerous ranges at Camp Atterbury and any number of them can be “hot” at any given time. There are ranges for pistols, rifles, artillery as well as strafing (witnessing an A-10 Warthog engaging in a strafing run is awe inspiring from a distance); some of the ranges involve firing over roadways (if the range is “hot”, these should be blockaded, but better safe than sorry). Wandering onto any of these ranges while they are “hot” could lead to a VERY bad day.

Range Control is reached by continuing south on the entrance road (Eggleston Street). Range Control will be on your left just before County Road 900 South. Himsel Airfield will be on your right just beyond the intersection of Eggleston Street and CR 900 S.

Win a Camp Atterbury Challenge Coin or 106th Infantry Division Swag

We will be giving away a Camp Atterbury Challenge Coin to an event participant and a 106th Infantry Division patch and pin to another event participant.