Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The Week Ahead -- Shooters News for the MN area - 5/24/11

Shooters News for the MN Area - 5/24/11

The Week Ahead
Memorial Day weekend is coming up next weekend, and what could be a better way to celebrate Memorial Day weekend than to have a shooting match. There are rifle matches next weekend and the fact is that there are 7 of them scheduled over the 3 day holiday.  that should be just enough to make even the most avid shooter happy.

 The Long Rangers will have more opportunity to apply their art as Lodi will be hosting their 3 day Regional with both 1000yd and Palma matches scheduled for May 28th-30th.

  Mid Range prone shooters can head to Northstar on Sat. May 28 for a Mid Range prone match and barbeque afterwards.  While this match was originally to be a Service Rifle match, it has been opened up to match rifle shooters, Senior Scope shooters, F-class, and as it's to be a fun match -  come and shoot!

 From Capt. Bob:
"You may/may not be aware that North Star is planning on a fun $10.00 MRP match this coming Sat. May 28 followed by a picnic. Originally we wanted to make this an M1 Garand only event. Today a North Star member suggested we should open this to ALL shooters, sling shooters & F class. So I am resending the program for those who were not on the original list. NOTE that I need your name by this Wed. the 25th at noon for proper food order. Disregard the part in the program that says M1 Garand or service rifle only.  I probably do not have a complete list of F class shooters in the area so you guys can pass this along.
   Thus far I have only 7 names interested in shooting & the picnic. If we don't have at least 15 names for food by Wed. May 25 the picnic will be canceled.  If I don't have at least 15 names of shooters by the same time the match will be canceled also. I do not need money, just a note saying you will attend assuming it were to quit raining by then. 
WED. MAY 25, 2011 NOON SHARP. CALL OR EMAIL ME 507-363-0011.
Bob"                                                         Click Here for Match program

Over the Course shooters, will get their chance on Sunday May 29th, just south of town near RedWing as there will be an 80 shot OTC match at NorthStar.  Click Here for match program.

Small Bore
This is the weekend of the Regional Outdoor Prone Championship at Mpls. Rifle Club.  The new interest in Sm Bore prone shooting is evident in the Full line we saw at last weeks prone league 1600 match.  We expect numbers to continue growing as more F-class shooters and Senior scope shooters take advantage of great opportunity for great competition on the Sm Bore firing line. The fact that we have top quality Junior rifle clubs that can send 10 good Juniors to the line is also helping the competition.
  Saturday, May 28th,  is Iron sight day in this Regional tournament -- 160 shots for record and unlimited sighters.  Sunday, May 29th will be Any Sight day - again 160 shots with unlimited sighters. 
Sm Bore Reg. match program Click Here

Last Weekend
I assume that the Wadekamper Palma Matches were rained out. No news of this match forwarded to me.

Two Weeks out
June 4th -  High Power Clinic - Post 435  -  Program Click Here
June 4th -  80 OTC -  Northwestern Gun Club, Duluth  - Program Click Here
June 5th -  80 OTC -  Northwestern Gun Club, Duluth  - Program Click Here

Misc:
Tuesday Morning Sm bore league
at GRRC continues -  incls. F-class.  0900hrs.

Service Rifle Team T-shirts
Tom Torberg is again putting together an order for Service rifle team t-shirts.  I'm not sure if they are sold to the general public or just to the team members -- contact Tom if you want MN Service Rifle Team T-shirt or hat.
From Tom:
"Please pass this onto your Minnesota Service Rifle Team email list.  I know it may seem a little early but I would like to put together the team T-shirt and Hat order for the Minnesota Service Rifle team.  Our current inventory includes five hats and a couple of shirts.  So the questions I have are:
1.       Do we need to order more shirts or does everyone have enough from previous years?  If we do order more the design would be identical to last year except there would not be any advertising on the sleeves.
2.       Do we need to order more hats?  Again the hat design would be the same although I would get a standard type adjustment kind instead of the flex fit.
3.       Do we want to order sweatshirts?  These would not be like the ones we ordered a couple of years ago.  Everyone wanted a bigger logo.  I was thinking of design that looked just like the shirts.  Any other ideas or suggestion please let me know.
4.       Please email me at tjtorborg@aol.com if you need shirts, hats and/or sweatshirts.  Or if you have any design ideas or suggestions. 
Thanks, Tom"

That's all Folks
Hawkeye


"If you are unwilling to defend your right to your own lives, then you are merely like mice trying to argue with owls. You think their ways are wrong. They think you are dinner." -- Terry Goodkind

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

The Week Ahead for MN area shooters - May 18, 2011

Shooters News for the MN area -- May 16, 2011
The Week Ahead.
  Following up on the Long Range Regional held this past week in Lodi, Wisc., our own Long Range Shooting facility,
GRRC will be hosting shooters to it's Palma range this coming weekend, May 21 & 22 for the Rudy Wadekamper Mem. Palma matches. These matches will consist of both individual and team matches shot from the 800 - 1000 yd firing lines at GRRC.  A Palma match has shooters firing 15 shots, plus sighters, at each yd line -- 800 yds, 900 yds, and 1000yds.  With 150-15x pts being the max. score at each distance, a 450-45x would be the highest possible score.  Practiced Palma shooters expect their scores to be solid in the 440s. The rest of us just hope to break 420 on a good day.
  If you have ever wanted to try shooting long range, the Palma Match course of fire is a good place to start, as the first targets are at 800yds and not 1000 yds.  It's not as worrysome about getting on the target without solid zero's at 800 yds. If you have a good 600 yds zero or even a solid 300 yd zero, you can probably get on the 800 yd target with some help from your scorer watching the bullet trace. 
  This match is also open to F-class shooters and I'm sure that Seniors wanting to shoot scope wouldn't be turned away.
Click Here for Match Bulletin.  Come on out and give it a try.

Last Weekend
Small bore
The prone season for the Sm Bore folks got started at Mpls. Rifle Club, this past Sunday with the first "outdoor conventional prone" 1600 match of their summer season.
It was a full house as 20 Sm Bore shooters filled out the whole line. The heightened interest in Sb Prone shooting has been evident now for some time as turnouts to these matches have been growing in numbers for the past couple of years. I expect this trend to continue as more and more Highpower shooters see the need to improve their prone shooting and will also see that Sm Bore competition is the best way to do that.

027.JPGSee complete Match rpt. in next post below or Click Here
Click Here for Slide show of Match 

Congratulations to Jim Biles - Match winner,
1st -- Morgan Dietrich,  2nd -- Chad Danielson 1543-43x,  3rd --  Julie Huseby  1540-45x
 

Congratulations to Eric Hazelton -   Top Junior and 3rd overall.
1st Junior - Patrick Sunderman 1556-50x,   2nd Junior -- Alex Giesar 1548-62x,  3rd  Junior -  Scott Chester 1546-51


High Power
Long Range at Lodi

The always popular Palma Regional at Lodi, Wisc once again drew a crowd of at least 65 shooters hoping for a beautiful day to shoot some long range. The weather wasn't cooperative but the shooting was good and old friends got to visit after a long winter. 
Steve McGee was the overall match winner after the 2 days of competition with Palma scores of 448 and 440, and then a 196-5x at

DSCN0054.jpg
the 1000 yd line. 2nd Place went to Ron Sekellick, and the bronze for 3rd place was taken by Mn resident Stacey Tamulinas.  Another Mn resident, Jay Johnson was the winner in the Master Class, with Phil Klanderud coming in 2nd.
Click Here for Complete Results
Click here for a few more pictures of Lodi from Stacey Tamulinas

 


Mark Havilk has put together a very nice slide show set to music of his pictures taken at GRRC's Bob Hall match.  He has an excellent result.  Click Here to view this short Video by Mark Havlic

Two Weeks out
 May 28-29   Sm Bore prone Regional w/F-class & Senior scope class at MRC -- Program Click Here
 May 28th  --  Service Rifle mid range prone at Northstar  -  Program click Here
 May 29th  -- 80 shot OTC at Northstar  -  Program Click here
 May  28 -30th -- Long range at Lodi.  


That's all Folks
Hawkeye

Monday, May 16, 2011

Mpls. Rifle Club's Sm Bore prone 1600

It was a Full House at Mpls Rifle Club Sunday as 20 Sm bore shooters filled out the whole line for the first prone 1600 match of the season.
  



The prone season for the Sm Bore folks got started at Mpls. Rifle Club, this past Sunday with the first "outdoor conventional prone" 1600 match of their summer season.
  The heightened interest in Sb Prone shooting has been evident now for some time as turnouts to these matches have been growing in numbers for the past couple of years. I expect this trend to continue as more and more Highpower shooters see the need to improve their prone shooting and will also see that Sm Bore competition is the best way to do that.
  The Match
After days (substitute: weeks or months) of dreary gray skys, the sun was out and the temps were going to be in the 60's. It looked good for the match.  I got over to MRC about 0800 and first off I saw that the worker folks had been busy upgrading the Sm Bore shooting house.  A lot of work had been done, including finish work on the walls, Heating and duck work, and temporary weather doors for winter shooting had been made.  Shooting tables to get the winter shooter off the cold floor, and make it easier to see over a couple ft of snow had also been constructed and were available for use.
  Yes, it was a nice sunny day for a match, but the wind was coming up and it was going to be strong and gusty. The forecast was for 18 to 20 mph wind from the NW.  The forecast proved correct.
  The shooters put lots of clips on their targets and backers and settled in for the first match -- 50yds match.  I thought I fired a reasonable score on the first target with a 194 in those unpredictable winds, but others did better and after two targets Jr. Scott Chester, and Moran Dietrich had both fired 396s for the match, only to get beat by Intermediate Jr. Patrick Sunderman with his 397-17x score.
   The next match was the Dewar match, with one 50 yd target, followed by a 100 yd target. By the time we got to the 100 yd line, the wind was a definate factor and the one who figured it out the best was Junior Erick Hazelton coming off the line losing only 6 pts for a 394 and 16 Xs.  I had my best match of the day taking a 2nd with at 393-15x squeaking past Jim Biles of Duluth, and again junior Scott Chester by only a couple Xs.
  The 100 yd match featured excellent wind conditions for someone that liked strong gusty winds. By the end of the 2nd  100 yd target, there were more than a couple targets flapping or torn. One target frame broken in the worst gust. There were a few surprise shots as the wind worked it magic, and I proved that I could still shoot 8s when inattentive. Jim Biles, High master High Power shooter had the best read on the wind shifts, and the best hold, posting an excellent 393-16x in those tough conditions. Jim's score topped the field by 7 points, as the next best shooters in that match were Sub Junior Marksman Lori H., and Master
- Steve Knutson, and Morgan Dietrich, - all with 386 scores.  On the last 20 shot target of that windy 100yd match, Lori H. fired a 195 to Steve and Morgan's 193, 194.  A great performance for a great young shooter. She didn't win the match, but she fought it out to the last shot.
 The  50m match brought little respite in the wind, but the competition was still fierce. Jim Biles knew he was 2 points up on Morgan going into that last match, but two points in tough conditions is little comfort.  3 people tied for 2nd place in that match with well earned 392 scores and they were Morgan Dietrich, Jr. Alex Giesar, and once again Jr. Erick Hazelton.  Jim Biles fired a 393-16x to win his 2nd match of the day and take title of overall Match Winner for the Day. 

Click to expand
Complete results:  Click Here 

Congratulations to Jim Biles - Match winner, 1569-62x
1st -- Morgan Dietrich 1566-68
2nd -- Chad Danielson 1543-43x
3rd --  Julie Huseby  1540-45x  


Junior Match winner -- Erick Hazelton --  1562-57x   (3rd high overall)
1st Junior -- Patrick Sunderman 1556-50x
2nd Junior -- Alex Giesar 1548-62x
3rd  Junior -  Scott Chester 1546-51    


   

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Shooters News for the MN area - 5/11/11



Shooters News for the MN area - May 11, 2011

The Week Ahead  
   For this coming weekend, prone shooters will have choices.  Traveling shooters that want to shoot a
Long Range Highpower event will head on down to Lodi, Wisc. for the Wisconsin Long Range Regional.
    Prone shooters that want to stick closer to home will be heading on over to
Mpls. Rifle Club on Sunday, May 15, for a Conventional Outdoor Prone 1600 Sm. Bore match.  Shooters will fire 4 ea 40 shot matches--- the DeWar match: -one targ

P1010022.JPG
et each at 50yds and 100yds,  the 100 yd match: -2 targets at 100 yds,  the 50 m match:- 2 targets at 50 m , and the 50yd match: - with 2 targets at 50 yds. I like these Sm. Bore matches as there is no target pulling, and I don't have to load the ammo. This match includes F-class for the first time, and will also feature a "Senior Scope" class for those seniors who don't shoot Iron sights any more. 
   If you have a sm bore rifle and can shoot from the prone position, (sling or F-class) this is the match for you.  Rem ember--- the absolute best way to hone your prone shooting skills is by shooting sm bore.  All most all top long range shooters are small bore shooters as well. Click Here for Sm bore match bulletin

Last Weekend
The
Bob Hall Match at GRRC
Traditionally, my first OTC match of the MN shooting season is the Bob Hall match at GRRC.  I planned this year to shoot my AR space gun, but that was not to be.  For the first time, I had left an important piece of equipment in AZ. I had left the sight base on my other upper receiver and now I could not attach the rear sight to the rifle.  Oh, well, I'd just have to shoot the Service Rifle and do my best with the battle sights.  I have found that I an shoot Standing and Sitting just as well with the service rifle as with the match rifle. Fact is, I can usually always get a higher score in Sitting rapid with the Service rifle.
  The day had been forecast for some rain showers, but turned out to be a glorious day -- 70 deg and sunshine.  It was the perfect day for a shooting match.  Fifteen shooters came out the enjoy a day at the range -- mostly service rifle shooters.
  Not having practiced Standing for a few months, my score suffered as I shot mostly in the nine ring with a few tens and got a low 180's score.  Next up was Sitting Rapid, and that started out great with a small group in the middle and a 99-7x . Another tight group on the 2nd string but high in the 10 ring made for a 195 -8x total.  Prone 300 yd rapid went well, but Prone slow fire at 600 yds  did not as I could not see the side edges of the front sight blade and kept shooting left and right for a low 183 score.
Click Here to see short Video of Erick Rhode shooting Sitting Rapid fire
Click Here to see short Video of Lee Sorenson shooting Sitting Rapid fire

Kevin Bangen - Winner of Bob Hall match
The long winter off didn't affect Kevin Bangen's skills in Over The Course shooting. Kevin fired an awesome 790 score at the GRRC's season opening Bob Hall match.  After dropping only 7 pts. standing, Kevin fired a 199 Sitting Rapid, and then a clean 200 score in the 300yd prone rapid fire matches. Even though Kevin had lock on the match winner by this time, he went into the prone 600 yd slow fire match looking to post what might be a range record, 792 score.  A couple of 2 min wind reversals cost Kevin 2pts in that match, but he came off the line with the highest score of 790-36x. 
  Kevin won all 4 of the matches on his way to the highest aggregate, but Mark Havlik came close in the sitting Rapid match with a 196-4x,  and in the 300yd prone Rapid match, Tim Boyle came close to taking that match away from Kevin with a 198-9x.  Dale Wickstrom posted a late comeback after some lower than average scores at the short line matches, and started nailing the 10 and Xring at 600 yds to finish 2nd with a great 195-6x in that match.
    Kurt Borlaug ran a great match as usual, and also as usual, the GRRC range was in perfect condition for this long running spring match --  even with a few extra puddles to contend with in the pits.  
  Click Here for slide show of pictures from Bob Hall Match.
  Click Here
for match results  


300 Meter International  
 From Brian Shiffman:
It was a great day for shooting (may 8th); the right temperature and very slight and variable breeze.  For the most part the wind was near calm but there were occasional gusts that were enough to blow bullet about one ring over.  A few of us got caught asleep at the trigger because these were so few and far apart.  We finished shooting before it began to drizzle in the afternoon.  There was not a big turnout but it was still a good match.
The consistency award goes to Ed Facundo for 190’s across the board, in Prone.  Russ gets the award for most improved in a single match; every series was better than the previous one.  The first two series in F-Class had all three of us very close.  Aeren Nauman was shooting a very nice custom Surgeon in 6.5x47 while Chuck Bever was shooting a 6.5x284.  A little more noise than the 6BR’s.
 After working on iron sight alignment for months I decided to see if there was something in my ammo or barrel that had deteriorated over time and needed tweaking, so I shot F-Class with a scope.  Well, I think there is nothing inherent in the rifle or ammo that would justify my poor iron sight scores…even when using irons sights from a rest.  So there I am, left with other problems related to position and alignment, trigger handling, phase of the moon, tide clock or whatever.
Here is the link to the match scores for May:  http://www.edfpages.com/mgfc/results.php?match=5
The June match is scheduled for Sunday the 12th.
Brian D. Shiffman   shiff004@umn.edu

Highpower Notes:
From Capt. Bob

HP SHOOTERS:
Attached find 2 programs for May 28-29 at North Star. Note especially the MRP SERVICE RIFLE ONLY (Click Here) program. North Star is planning on a BBQ after with Brats & Burgers. You supply your soft drink & or adult beverage.
It's important that you contact me by noon Wed. May 25 with your intention to be there for the BBQ so we can order enough chow.
I do not need your entry fee, just email me that you are going to shoot & stay for the food.  If we don't get at least a dozen for BBQ it will be canceled.
Sunday 29th is an NRA approved OTC match.  HOLDHARD,  Click Here for match bulletin
Bob      

Two weeks out
May 21st --  MRC -- Small Bore Off-Hand league - match bulletin click here
May 21-22  --  GRRC - Wadekamper Palma matches - match bulletin click here

That's all Folks!
Hawkeye

Tuesday Morn. Sm Bore at GRRC

 If you wish to work on your Prone Shooting skills, and have Tues. morning free time, the GRRC Sm Bore league will be shooting thisTuesday 9:00am.  Each week we will shoot at least one 40 shot match as part of a regular 1600 prone outdoor competition.  4 weeks will make up each 1600. 
  Any one that has a SB rifle should come.  You can shoot F-class style, and senior scope if you want.  
Note: This weekend is the first Sm Bore prone 1600 of the summer at MRC -- Sunday, May 15th. This match is also open to F-class and senior scope.   Click here for match bulletin

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

The Week Ahead -- Shooter's News for the MN area -- May 4, 2011


The Week Ahead
 For me, the MN shooting season starts this weekend (Sat) at GRRC with the Bob Hall OTC match.  We shifted from AZ to MN early this week and had an opportunity to travel though some of the most beautiful country there is.  Just north of Flagstaff AZ, you drive through John Wayne country (Monument Valley) on your way to Moab, UT, and the Colorado River highway leading up through the Rockies and out to Denver.  I'll post some pictures and a video or two on the Blog - Magnificent and we the people of the great USA own it! 
       
HighPower
  This Saturday, May 7th,  Over the Course shooters can shoot at GRRC, at the long running Bob Hall Memorial 80 shot OTC match. This will be a good warm up for all the Service Rifle shooters looking to make the MN service rifle team.  I'll be there with a match rifle, as I like shooting the rapid fire matches in the OTC course of fire.  I'm always looking for that elusive 200 score in Sitting and Prone rapid fire, and the chance to shoot a 20 shot match at 600 yds.is always a good challenge.
  Click Here for Bob Hall match program
from Kurt BorlaugBorlaug:
GRRR  wants to advise all competitors attending the Bob Hall Match this Saturday to wear appropriate footwear. Our pits are a bit soggy and I want no whining about wet feet if you show up in running shoes or the like.
  Also, is it just me, or does anybody else think it's odd that just a week or so after MSGT Matt Griffin gets deployed. OBL is room temp???  Say a prayer for all our armed forces all over making our lives what they are.
Later, Kurt
This Sunday, May 7-8,  there are Mid Range Prone matches at Lacrosse Rifle Club.  --  600 Yds.
   The match program web site is down at this time but Click Here to try it.
High Power Notes:
1.   Post 435 VFW will be hosting a Service Rifle Clinic on June 4th - Click Here for Match bulletin.
2.   NorthStar Rifle club is considering scheduling an OTC match July 3
    From Capt Bob:
"Would you shoot a 1 day OTC at North Star July 3 if I can get the range?
 I think it would be a $15.00 fee with minimum awards and no scores to NRA.
 If I can get at least 20 shooters I would probably set it up." --  Bob  dilligas@means.net 
 John Graves has donated a $50 prize for this match as way to celebrate his B-day and:
 Capt. Bob proposes to:
"pending approval from John.  His cash prize would awarded by drawing vs. high score.  I believe this method should attract more shooters than the match winner getting it. We will put all the names in a hat and draw.  
 The usual award schedule will apply from your entry fee. Now do you feel better about shooting on July 3? let me know by May 10 because I'm away for a week starting the 11th."
3.  Elk River Sportsman's Club is adding a Mid Range Prone match to the schedule on June 25 &26. Each day contestants will shoot 4 prone 20 shot matches with Any Rifle and Any sights -- both sling and F-class.  Click Here for Match program and entry 
 300 Meter International
Minneapolis Rifle Club hosts a 300 meter Prone International match this Sunday, May 8th on their sophisticated Electronic target system.  There will be classes for 3 position, prone and F-class shooters.  These international targets are vary demanding, but shooting with this kind of technology and a shot plotting monitor next to every firing position really fun.
 From George Minerich:  
Sunday brought the 3 Position to Mpls. Rifle Club for the 300 meter Championship Match.
Eight shooters fought it out in great match shooting conditions. This match is shot with unlimited sighters before each position. Shooters shot 20 rounds Prone, 20 rounds Standing and 20 shots Kneeling for record (all slow fire). Shooters competed on the 300 M International Electronic C 1 Target in all positions.    Sm Bore
Erhardt Bruderer won the 2011 300 m State Championship, shooting a 3P score of 554
Eric Hazleton won the 2011 Jr 300m St. Championship, shooting a 3P score of 502.
Complete Results;  Click Here
This smmer there will be a special prize for the most dedicated small bore prone shooter. 

Small bore
From Chad Danielson:
Sunday May 15th  MRC Conventional 1600 Prone tournament is the first Smallbore prone match that goes towards the newly developed Minnesota Aggregate  Prone Title.  Any shooters that show and shoot the tournament will have their score recorded for points towards the cumulative title at the end of the summer season.  Actual tournament score will be used to accumulate points towards the title. For example a shooter who shoots a 1586 will have 1586 points towards the championship.  Whatever smallbore prone tournament that shooter was to shoot next will then be added to his or her total. At the end of the season the shooter who has accumulated the most tournament points will be declared the 2011 Minnesota Smallbore Prone Aggregate Champion.   This was set up with the idea of promoting continued growth of our local Smallbore Shooting matches throughout the summer. Also this system doesn't't necessarily mean the best shooter will end up, as end of the season champion, the shooter most dedicated to attending matches possibly will have the highest accumulated points total at the end, as the more of the 9 scheduled Smallbore prone matches you attend the more points you will accumulate. There will be an overall end of the season plaque, and a junior category plaque to be awarded at the end of the summer

Click Here for summer aggregate Program


Next Sm Bore matches are Sunday, May 15, at MRC .  This is a Conventional prone outdoor 1600. 
  ** Remember -  this match is open to Seniors using Scopes and to F- Class shooters, so if you have a small Bore rifle, there is no excuse for not coming to this match. See program below.
 Two Weeks Out:
May 14-15 -- Long Range Regional at Lodi
May 15     --  Sm Bore prone 1600 at MRC - Program Click Here 
May 21-22 -- Wadekamper Palma matches at GRRC -- Click Here

 Thats all Folks
Hawkeye