The Pershing/Roberts Match series is the smallbore equivalent of the Palma Match, and is the most prestigious international conventional prone rifle competition held.
The Pershing and the Roberts are contested at eight year intervals, to allow a match to be fired every four years. All matches conducted in the United States are for the Pershing Trophy, while those in Great Britain are for the Roberts Trophy. Both are fired over a Dewar course with the host country's rules and targets.
Selection for the 2017 U.S. Roberts Team will take place during the metallic sight phase of the 2016 NRA National Smallbore Rifle Conventional Prone Championship.
The 12 riflemen scoring the highest aggregate score in the metallic sight aggregate and the Dewar International Postal Team Match will be named to the team.
Candidates must use “British Legal” equipment conforming to NSRA Rules:
NSRA Rule 8.4.1.2—A rear sight, including tube sights, which may if so desired have attached a single lens or system of lenses not containing an aiming point as a substitute for, or in addition to, prescribed spectacles. Plane light absorbing filters may be used.
NSRA Rule 8.4.3—A lens may be used attached to, or forming part of the foresight in Rule 8.4.1.1 or 8.4.1.2. The lens may not be used in addition to any other lens or system of lenses except a single prescribed sight-correction lens. The sight-correction lens may be either attached to the rear sight or worn by the shooter.
NSRA Rule 8.6.1.1—The maximum sling width is 40 mm.