The course of fire consists of shooting from different positions at various distances from the target.

Positions

The most common positions used in Highpower are Standing (or Offhand), Sitting, and Prone.

Distances

A typical "across the course" Highpower match will have the competitors firing at 200, 300, and 600 yard distances from the targets. If a match is being fired at a range where the distances are reduced, the targets are smaller to simulate the greater range.

Time Limits

Different strings of shooting are fired at different speeds depending on the time limit.

A slow fire stage requires competitors to fire one shot at a time. They must load and fire each round individually. Each shot is also scored individually. Usually shooters have as many minutes to fire that stage as there are shots to fire. For example, a ten shot slow fire string will have a time limit of ten minutes.

Rapid fire means that competitors must fire the requisite number of rounds, including a magazine change, within the specified time limit. When the targets are exposed, competitors load their rifles with 2 or 5 rounds, fire, reload with 8 or 5 rounds, and finish shooting the string for a total of 10 shots fired. The time limit for this type of fire is 60 seconds per string for sitting and 70 seconds for prone.

The three most common Highpower rifle courses of fire are listed below: