Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Shooters News for the Minn Area - July 31, 2012

The Week Ahead   
Even though we are in the middle of the National championships at Camp Perry, Ohio, there are good rifle matches here locally in which to participate this weekend. 
   Prone Shooters can head to the Mpls. Rifle Club in NW Anoka County, for the Small Bore Metric Regional prone championship over the two days of Aug 4 & 5.  Shooters will fire a prone outdoor 1600 each day with the Saturday matches being an Iron Sight match, while Sunday's matches allow Any sights to be used.  These matches will really test the skill of the participants, as they will be firing on those unforgiving International Metric targets. I enjoy those metric targets as they demand close concentration, and they make the next match, using NRA targets, look easy.
                       Click Here for Match bulletin and entry info
MR Match Winner Brian Mrnak
Highpower shooters not heading for Camp Perry, because of cost and distance, can head up to NorthWestern Gun Club (much closer) for the annual "Poor man's Camp Perry" matches. There is a little something for everyone here.  On Saturday, it will be an 80 shot Over The Course match, and then on Sunday, Shooters will compete in an 4x20 (80 shot) Mid Range match to be shot from the scenic 500 yd line of NWGC's beautiful Hunter Lake rifle range. Two matches are to be shot with Irons and two with Any sights. 
Match director: Illja Zunich,  email: sveti_ilija@northlc.com  
                       Click Here for Match bulletin and entry info
                     


MR Champ Results (sling class)
Last Weekend 
Elk River Sportsmen's Club hosted the Mid Range State Championship last Sat, and Sunday.  I didn't make it to this match but:
 From Capt. Bob
     "Attached are pics from the MRP at Elk River.  Sling shooters only.....  
Brian Mrnak from Ashland, Wi. wins.  Bob is state champ. Erik Hazelton is jr. champ. Outstanding day for MRP.  Never more than 3 clicks of wind required all day.
Bob"
Capt Bob -- State MR Champ
  
Notes:
1.  From Karen Newell of GRRC;
     Hi Jim,  .... Glad you had fun. (at the GRRC Cmp games 7/14). We raised close to $2000 for the M-1 for Vets cause."
    Hawkeye says: It was fun, Karen, and raising that much money just makes it all the better. 

2. From Larry Weidell: on the Pig Roast matches at the Eau Claire Rifle Clu.
  "Jim 
I meant to get some news of the pig roast to you.  The format changed this year to a 4x600 on Saturday and OTC on Sunday.  We got started about an hour late due to a rain delay.  The rest of the day was rather nice but a little on the warm side.  I think we had between 40 or so shooters for the day. About an hour or so after the match the pig was ready.  A small keg was also tapped.  Lots of discussions about the days events and other topics as well.  Dick V from Duluth brought out a tub of ice cream towards evening and we all enjoyed root beer floats.  Sunday started out extremely well at least for me anyway.  I managed a 190-3 standing.  The rest of the day went well with some pretty good scores by several of the twenty-one shooters.  At the end of the day the match winner with a 772-20 was me!  Imagine my surprise. As usual my hat is off to the Eau Claire National Rifle Club for a well run match and Pig Roast.   Later,  
Larry"
Tks Larry for the Match rpt. and congrats to you for such good shooting! 

3. For the next week or two, there will be no Newsletter for shooters.  Have fun at the matches I'll miss and send in some picts and match reports. I'll post them later. Hawkeye
  
Two (or more) Weeks Out   
August 11,12 - Small bore 3P and 4P matches at Mpls Rifle club - click here for match program 
August 11  --    300 meter International at MRC
August 18  --    Small bore metric 3P matches at MRC  - match program Click Here
August 18  --    NRA Regional at NorthStar -- Click here for Match program  
August 19  --    NRA Regional team and Leg match at NorthStar  - Click here for Match program 
August 19  --    Sm Bore outdoor conventional Prone at MRC -- Click here for match bulletin
August 24  --    Highpower Off Hand St. Championship at MRC -- Click here for Match program  
August 24  --    Highpower Couples Team match and Picnic at MRC -  click here for match program 
August 24  --    SB State Champ prone at Hibbing - click here for match program  

 That's all Folks !
Hawkeye

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Shooters News for the Minn Area - July 24, 2012

Minnesota Sm Bore shooters are competing in the National championships at Camp Perry, Ohio this week.  We wish them all success and good shooting.The same goes for those who are heading out that way soon for the Highpower, and the Long Range championships. 

The Week Ahead 
Prone Highpower shooters will again have a chance to test their skills this coming weekend. After the heat and difficulty of the 1000yd matches at GRRC last weekend, they will find the competition just a little easier this weekend. The green grass of the 600 yd line at the Elk River Sportsmen's club, will be gathering point for the State Championship Mid Range matches for both Sling class and F-class shooters.  The competition starts on Saturday morning, July 28th, with a 4 person team match. Each shooter will fire 3 matches of 15 shots for record with 2 sighters allowed.  The team match is an "Any Sight" match, so you may use Iron sights if you want. If your club has not organized a team yet for this match, show up and pickup teams will be organized on site.
     Click Here for Match program and entry info.
From Scott Olson:    "Club vs. Club teams are encouraged, please no “All Star” teams. MRRA teams will be allowed, no shooters will be turned away. A Five Star BBQ Dinner will follow the team match event!"  
The Individual Mid Range Champ matches follow on Sunday, July 29th, at 0900 hrs.  This is a 80 shot match, and shooters will go to the line for 4 twenty shot matches with 2 sighters allowed for each match.  The first two matches are to be shot with Iron sights, and the last two may be shot with "Any" sights. 

Next up for prone shooters is the Sm Bore Metric Regional at the Mpls Rifle Club, on Aug 4-5.  This is a 3200 with 8 targets of 20 shots to be fired each day.  
     Click Here for match bulletin.

Last Weekend   
Pig Roast matches at Eau Claire Rifle Club -- no match report is available, but we know from past experience that they all had a good time.

Minnesota State Long Range Championship  
 Warm weather and humidity plagued the Minn St. Long Range Championships, this past weekend, but 20 Sling shooters and 11 F-class competitors shrugged off the conditions and fired mostly 10s and xs at GRRC's long range shooting facility near Harris MN.  Saturday's competition was all about the 1000 yd line. Shooters would fire from almost 5/8th of a mile onto targets 6 ft square. They would fire from prone, off their elbows, with iron sights!  While a 6ft square target may seem a generous size to shoot at, even from that amazing distance, is really isn't.   The black dot on the target is only 44 inches in diameter, and if you only hit near the edge of it, you only score 8 pts.  In order to score a 10, you have to hit the 10 ring only 22 inch wide or even the 10 in wide X ring.  That's right --- in order to win this 1000 yd State Championship, you must be able to shoot, unsupported, with iron sights almost every shot into a 20 in circle at 5/8th of a mile--all the while knowing that a un-noticed change in the wind of even 1mph, can change the strike of the bullet by 10 inches on the target. In this match skill is worth a lot more than luck.
All Xs !!!   Scope Cam from 1000yds

   The 31 shooters gathered at GRRC were the best in the upper Midwest and they would prove it today.
   On the F-class side of the line it was Adam Shidla that dominated through-out the day by winning each of the three 20 shot contests with scores of 198, 197, and 195 on F-class targets, where the 10 ring shrinks to only 10 inches or 1 moa., and the X ring is only half of that.  That was amazing shooting, and it should be noted that Adam put 27 of the 60 shots in the 5 inch X ring!  E. Johnson, and Rick Sievers took 2nd and 3rd, only 4 pts back with 586 scores.
On the Iron Sight end of the line, it was also a tight battle right from the start.  In the first match Steve McGee, Bill Lair, and Brian Mrnak each dropped only one pt. for 199 scores, and Brian's 14 Xs breaking the tie for the win. In the 2nd match only Steve McGee was able to shoot a clean target for the win.  Shirley McGee gets a 2nd on a creedmore tie breaker over Bill Lair.  Master Class shooter, Erik Rhode is just back one point, after shooting a 197.   Steve M. fired another clean 200 score in the last match, and posted the highest score for the day after dropping only one pt in the 60 shots for record -- 599-35x.  Highest scoring Minnesota resident and 1000 yd Champ is Capt. Bob Peasley - 591-23x.

On Sunday, the shooters switched to their .308 caliber match rifles to contest the State Palma Championship.  Three matches of 15 shots, were on tap today.  The shooters would fire one match at each of the 3 yard lines starting at 800 yds, then moving to the 900 yd line and finally shooting the last match back at the now familiar 1000 yd line.

  I was going to shoot today--give it a try. I haven't shot any long range for about 8 years, but the Palma match starts at the 800yd line and I figured that I could get a good score there at least. I also didn't have the .308 cal rifle required, so I would be shooting "out of competition" (score doesn't count). I had good 600yd zeros, so I just added 8 min of angle to the sights and was pretty sure that I would hit the target. I was 2nd relay, so I studied the wind while Chuck D. shot, and when It was my turn, I added a 1/2 min right on the sight and fired the first sighter.  the target went down and came up a scratch 8 at 7'oclock -- so far so good.  Since I had called a good shot, I put on a full correction for the 2nd sighter and it went out the top. Two more sighters close together in the top of the 10 ring so dropped the sights a 1/2 min and went for record.  The first 3 record shots stayed high in 10 ring and then 2 more clicks down brought 9 Xs and 3 more 10s for a 150 score. Well, well, well, that was fun !  My day was a success already.
 Five other shooters also cleaned their targets that first match, with Brian Mrnak getting the win with 13 tie breaking Xs.  Back at the 900 yd line, I would shoot first before going to the pits to pull targets for a while.  I dropped the front sight one notch to make up the 6 moa I would have to add to the sights a the longer distance.  At my sight radius, of 35 inches, it takes about 5 clicks per moa.  This time we got only two sighters, and my first was a high nine so I came down 4 clicks and got another high nine so I dropped another 4 clicks for the 1st record shot.  Arrrrg, a nine out the top, then one just out at 10.  So two shots and two pts down.  At the end of the 15 shots I had lost another pt. to a slight breeze and had shot a bad shot into the 8 ring.  So 145 was the score and I was glad to get that.  It was hot and I felt roasted.  W. Davis, S. McGee, and Stacey Tamulinas all fired clean 150s at the 900 yd line, with Stacey getting the with with the highest X count.  Back at the 1000 yd line, I decided I was a little too over heated and so I would just watch.  I had had a good day, so why push it.

Minn State Long Range Champs
Stacey T. and Steve M. fought it out for the day's win in this last match but neither was able clinch the victory with a clean target. Steve only shot one nine (all day long)  and finished with the days high score -  449-26x.  Phil Klanderud, who shot clean at the 800 yd line and lost only 2pts at the 900 yd. line is the Minnesota State Palma Champ, after shooting an awesome 444-20x for the day.
The Over all Minnesota Long Range champ is Capt. Bob Peasley whose top score was 1031-36x.
   Note:  From Capt Bob:
Steve Mcgee's 200-14x with irons at 1000 was an Any Rifle,non Res. record -- As was his 449-26x Palma Score. I will be sending him a non resident certificates.

 On the F-class side of the firing line, the competition was just as fierce. E. Johnson won the Palma match with an awesome score of 444- 22x, and that score added to his Saturday 1000 yd score also earned him the over all F-class Long Range Championship.   2nd in the Palma match with the same score of 444, but a few less Xs, was J. Rykhus.  2nd in the Overall championship was A. Shidla, with a combined total score of 1015-37x. 

F-class results
Sling Class Results
 



 






Notes:  
1.  Our shooting friend, Larry Miller, has been recently been hospitalized twice, and I believe, is now recuperating at home.  We all hope there is a speedy recovery.

2.  From Robert Beluzzo
"The Minnesota State Outdoor Smallbore 4-p and 3-P matches were held in Hibbing on July 7 and 8.  The 4-P match was shot with a gusty north wind that was potentially troublesome.  Nick Learn, an intermediate junior from South Range Wisconsin displayed focus and poise as he outscored the competition to win the match with a score of 1544-64X.  Amy Belluzzo from Chisholm was the high scoring resident and will receive the State Association plaque.  Matt Bozicevich, a junior from Virginia, was third and will receive the Junior State plaque.  Amy shot a 1528-51X and Matt was close behind with a 1527-53X. 
The 3-P match belonged to Emily Quiner from Brooklyn Park, MN.  Emily out shot the competition with a high score of 1126-33X and will receive the State Championship plaque.  Nick Learn came in second and Matt Bozicevich was the high resident junior.  Shooters are looking forward to the Minnesota State Smallbore Prone Championships that will be held in Hibbing on August 25-26, 2012."

3. At the awards ceremony of the CMP Games last week, Tom Torburg asked me, "how many Rifle Matches I had shot over the years.  I couldn't answer -- there's been a lot of matches and a lot of rds down range ever since that first match.   However, as you all can imagine, I did take some pictures (9) of my first actual Rifle Match -- April 1967, Chappo Flats range, USMC base Camp Pendleton, CA                  Click here for Picts

USMC Rifle Expert badge
  Rifle matches haven't changed much as you can see. 

Two Weeks Out
If you are not going to Camp Perry, I'd be at:

Aug  4-5      Poor Man's Camp Perry OTC and Mid Range at Duluth - Program Click Here
Aug  4-5      Prone Regional Sm Bore Championships at MRC  --  Program Click Here


That's All Folks!
Hawkeye

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Hawkeye's first Rifle Match

It was a ways back, but no we didn't use muzzle loaders, we used M-14s and ball ammo. we shot good scores, because we had good eyes.

My first Rifle Match ----- April 1967, US Marine Base, Camp Pendleton, CA

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Shooters News for the Minn Area - July 18, 2012

The Week Ahead
 Prone shooters will be in a quandary this weekend with 2 good prone matches going head to head on the same days, due to an accidental scheduling error. We all know the difficulty and hard work it takes to put together area match schedules with 5 different Rifle clubs competing for different dates. So, I think that we are lucky that this doesn't happen more often, and with more and more matches being scheduled, it becomes more difficult.  I also see one of the problems as being that less shooters these days are willing travel very far to competitions, and want the local club to schedule more matches close to home.
  Are you ready? Oink, Oink!   Yes this is the weekend of the Pig Roast Matches at the Eau Claire Rifle Club.  Saturday, July 21st, the competition will center on the 600 yd line, and shooters will fire 4 matches of twenty rds for record, with 2 sighters allowed in each match.  Then after the shootin' is over - the Pig Roast begins!!!  "BBQ MENU: Pig Roast!!! Baked Beans!!! Cole Slaw!!! Potato Salad!!! Rolls!!! (Refreshments will be provided also)."
After a comfortable night's rest in the ERC's nice camp ground-- on Sunday, July 22, there will be an 80 shot OTC match commencing at 0900hrs. Don't be late.  RSVP
       Click Here for Match info and Entry

Long Range shooters will be heading to Gopher Rifle and Revolver Club this weekend for the Minnesota Long Range, and the Minnesota State Palma Championship.   The top notch GRRC long range shooting facility, will host the 1000 yd Championship matches on Saturday, July 21st.  Shooters will go to the line and fire 3 strings of 20 shots for record
 with unlimited sighters allowed for each match in a 30 min time period..  Shooters must have reasonable Zeros to get on paper.
   On Sunday, July 22nd, the action starts on the 800 yd line with the beginning of the Palma Championship.  All competitors again get unlimited sighters before firing their 15 record shots, but must finish in a time limit of 22 minutes.  Next up, the shooters will move back to the 900 yd line, add some elevation to their rifle sights and fire another 15 shot match for record.   The last match of the day is on the 1000yd line and is again 15 shots for record with unlimited sighters.
  If you haven't ever shot a Palma match, this is a great way to get into long range shooting.  With good 600 yd  zeros from Mid Range matches, it's not difficult to get on paper at 800 yd, then 900, and finally 1000 yds.  The 800 yd target is not a difficult target score on because it is the same target you use back at the 1000 yd line and the 10 ring is very generous at the shorter distance.   Click Here for Match program and entry.  

Last Weekend
CMP Games at Gopher         
I just knew it would be a "fun" match - and it was. Last Saturday, I headed up to GRRC bright and early, to participate in the CMP Games, that Tom Torborg, and Kurt Borglaug, were putting on. I had heard that they aimed more at having fun than serious competition.  This match was also billed as a fund raiser for the "M1 for Vets" program and proceeds were donated to that program.  The day started out at the 'Red Shed' with Dave Anderson cooking a hearty breakfast for all, and then a short program and Flag raising by the VFW color guard.
  After open festivities, the shooters moved down to the 200 yd line where most of the matches were shot.  This was a Service Rifle match, mostly for obsolete service rifles, but you could shoot in the 'modern military' class if you brought a AR-15.  Only a couple of us shot 'modern' guns, and most of the guys had brought out the M-1s, Enfields, Springfield '03s, and there was even a Swiss K31 on the line.
Lunch by Dave A. and GRRC
  There was enough Gopher volunteers (thank you, thank you) to man the pits, so the shooters just had to shoot and have fun.  The 'Course of fire' was pretty much the same as a Presidents Match course. We first had time for 5 sighters from the prone position, to get every one on target with the older guns. Then each shooter fired 10 shots Prone slow fire for record, followed that with a 10 string of Prone Rapid fire, and then 10 shots Slow Fire Standing to complete the 30 shots for Record.  There were 2 relays, and both were done after about 2 hours and it was time for lunch.  That's right--- lunch break!  Once again Dave had the barbeque going and there was Hamburgers, and dogs for everyone!  Well, now this is my kind of match.    After lunch Tom T. re-squaded everyone and we did it again --- we shot another 30 shot match in about an hour and a half to finish out that part of the days events.  Next up, for those who needed more trigger time, was a two man team match for vintage sniper rifles. About 6 teams of 2 participated in this match which was shot from the 600 yd line with scoped Springfields and other similar rifles.  Targets were presented for 20 seconds at a time, with spotters calling the wind and the shooter having get the shot off while the target was in the air.  I was amazed at how well some of these older rifles put shots in the middle from that distance.


   While it wasn't serious competition, I did have more fun at this match than I have had in a long time.  I'll be back for the next CMP games at Gopher. Besides having some fun, we did raise some money for the M1 for Vets program.  Double the pleasure.  More pictures of this match to be posted here asap.

Small Bore prone at MRC
Ross Ewert is the Man!  Ross shot only 3 nines in 160 shots in the Mpls. Rifle Club's monthly 1600 match, to finish with an awesome score of 1597 out of a possible 1600 pts.  130 of Ross's shots were Xs !   That's 81% Xs !    
Erhard's 100 yd clean
Only Ross and Stacey Tamulinas cleaned the two targets of the 50 yd Match, and Stacey got the win by holding for 33 Xs to Ross's 31xs. Ross took the days lead in the Dewar match shooting a 399, but didn't win that match because Matt Griffin also fired a 399 and with 31 Xs to break the tie.  Theirs were not the only good scores in the first two matches. Steve Knutson  was holding down 3rd place with only 3 pts lost so far.  Matt Griffin won his 2nd match of the day at the 100 yd line with a next to perfect 399-26x.  Erhardt Bruderer, Steve K., and Ross were just a couple pts. short. In the last match, the 50 meter match, Matt Griffin won his 3rd straight match of the day, by shooting both of those difficult targets clean and with most of them (35) in the X ring- whew!  Ross Ewert also had a clean target but with just a fewer Xs.  It's unfortunate that Matt had a DNF in the first match, but I'm sure that he was happy with his 3 match wins for the day, to add to his well earned State Service Rifle championship he earned just a couple weeks ago.  John Andres showed us all how to fire tiny groups at all 3 distances shooting F-class on those microscopic international targets.


   Ross's 1597 score is top for the day, with Steve K. -1594, 2nd, and Stacey gets the Ex class win with a 1587.
   Adults outnumbered the Juniors this match and a good time was had by all.  
   Next up for Prone SB shooters is the Metric Regional on Aug 4-5 at MRC.      Click here for entry info


Notes:
1.  Good shooting to all those headed to Camp Perry for the Nationals
2.  Correction:  Kevin Bangen won the Sitting Rapid Fire St. Champ not Jim Biles as I erroneously reported last week. I know Jim won something, as he is holding a trophy in the winning photo.   Congrats to both.

Two Weeks Out:
July 28-29     Minn State Mid Range Prone Champ at Elk River -- Program Click Here
Aug  4-5        Poor Man's Camp Perry OTC and Mid Range at Duluth - Program Click Here  

That's All Folks!
Hawkeye

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Shooters News for the Minn Area - July 11th, 2012

The Week Ahead
The weather forecast for this coming weekend is for warm temperatures in the low 90s. Fortunately, it's also supposed to be with Low humidity and that will make it tolerable to be outside for weekend activities.  On Sunday, July 15th, shooters will also have a chance to fire a prone match from the cool shade of the Sm Bore house at the Mpls Rifle Club.  George Minerich will be running this month's "conventional prone outdoor" Sm Bore 1600.  Shooters wanting to get in some prone practice will shoot 8 targets of 20 shots, at distances from 50 yds to 100 yds. I think that this is where I will be headed on Sunday -  if it isn't too hot for me to be out at the range.  This will be great practice for next weekends Long Range Championship at GRRC or the Mid Range matches at Eau Claire's Pig Roast weekend. Seniors are allowed to fire with Any Sights. 
           Click here for Match bulletin and entry info
  Note:  Last Saturday the Mpls Star and Trib newspaper featured a nice article on the recent visit to MRC's Sm Bore Range by some members of the US Olympic shooting team for a practice session before leaving for the London Olympics.  Click Here for a short Star and Tribune video of this practice session.

Brittany O
Saturday, July 14, I'll be up a GRRC for the CMP Games (Service Rifle), and a Vintage Sniper rifle match.  I've never been to one of these kind of matches, so this will be a new, and probably fun experience.  This event is also being run in conjunction with an "M-1 for Vets" program/match sponsored by the VFW and GRRC.  I know that this will be a good time and I'm looking forward to it. I must have an 'as issued' AR-15 in the gun safe somewhere          Click Here for match bulletin

Saturday July  14-15, there will be the Iowa State 300 yd Mid Range Championships at the River City Rifle and Pistol Club, just about 5 miles NW of Mason City, Iowa.  Saturday's event starts with a wind clinic for shooters, and then is followed by two 20 shot prone matches at 300 yds.  Sunday is the individual Championsip, and shooters will compete in 4  twenty shot matches.  Two are fired with Iron sights, and two with Any sights.
     Click Here for Match Bulletin, entry info, and Map to range  

Last Weekend 
Results
Erick Rhode came up out the Master Class this past weekend, and showed the High Masters how to win the State NRA Championship.  Erik started out the day by firing a 188 in the Standing Match and taking a 2nd place in that first match.  Dick Van Valkenberg, also a Master class shooter, won that match, and took the lead for the day by firing a rock steady 191-2x.  It was a different story in the Sitting Rapid Fire match, where Kevin Bangen, and Jim Biles both fired clean 200 point targets and the match win had to be decided by X count.  Jim Bile's 8 Xs  topped Kevins 6 Xs and Jim Wins the Sitting Rapid trophy.  Next up was the 300 yd Prone Rapid Fire match, and Kevin Bangen again fired a great score of 198, only to find that he was again beaten out for that trophy, this time by Capt. Bob, who had a convincing 12 tie breaking Xs, while Kevin had only 6.  Mark Rohmen and Erik Rhode were just one point back with 197s, and hanging in there after 3 matches. 

Click full screen and turn up the volume!
  By the time the shooters had moved back to the 600 yd line for the day's last match, the wind had settled down somewhat and the humidity had dropped to "tolerable". It was still "hot" but tolerable.  The 600 yd prone match showed us all that practice makes perfectOmer Hamer, who is a Grand Senior, has probably practiced (small bore and highpower) more than any of us over the years.  Omer's patience with the wind, paid off with the top score at mid range of 197-5x. Steve Erickson and Kevin B. were just a pt behind, and yours truly got a 4th with a 195.

Brian T. USN
 In the End, it was the steady high scores of Erik Rhode that topped the days aggregate.  Coming out of the Master class - Erik Rhode is the NRA OTC State Champion for 2012.  Erik's score of 775-24x is just a couple Xs higher than Kevin B's 775-22x, but that's enough for Erik's first State championship.   Jim Biles is 3rd overall with 771---not too shabby for a guy that only shoots one or two OTC matches per year.  Jim Schonke's 754 is good enough for 1st in the master Class.   
2012  Minn NRA OTC Champions
 
300 meter International
No results availiable from last weekends 300m match at MRC, but I'm sure that there was a good crowd shooting that match from the air conditioned comfort of the MRC 300m shooting house.

Notes:
From: Capt. Bob
"Minn. Wis. HP: Our friend Larry Miller from Iron River, Wisc. called this morning to say he was having back surgery next Tues. July 17 in Duluth. Apparently he has a small bone chip floating around causing mucho pain.  The doc says he will have a full recovery. If you feel like sending a card the address is:
Larry Miller,   64630 McCarry  Lake Rd., Iron River, Wis. 54847"
Bob

From: George Minerich - MRRA pres.
"Hi Jim:   Please find attached the links to the stories and videos about members of the US 
Shooting Teams Minnesota visit to the Minneapolis Rifle Club this week to train for the London 
Olympics. The Minneapolis Startribune video is great. It is hard to believe they printed 
this stuff.  Best Wishes,
George"
http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/161635255.html
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_21023646/home-range?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com
 
From: Morgan Dietrich  
"Jim: Here is the final agg for the Firecracker 4800 (sm bore prone in Raton, NM) that Eric (Hazleton) and I attended.  Great match (YOU SHOULD GO NEXT YEAR), tough shooters and variable winds from both directions.  You had to pay attention! 
I had a poor 50M the first day and lost 5 points, but only 4 the last 3 days.  I actually won the day 3+4 agg with a 2397-?  Not too shabby, added a 1200 the last day, which was good enough for 3rd place!  I needed WAY more x's.  Eric shot well all week, and should have all issues figured out for Perry, he will do great.  All in all, great match, plan on attending in 2013 !   - Morgen"
Morgan--Wow, that's some great scores !  Only dropping 4 pts in 3 days !  I usually lose that many on every target!!

Two Weeks Out  
July 21-22         Minn State Long Range Champ at GRRC -- Match program click here
July 21-22         Pig Roast matches at Eau Claire  -  Match program click here

That's All Folks !  We will see you prone shooters at MRC on Sunday
Hawkeye
  

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Shooters News for the Minn Area - July 4th, 2012

It's 4th of July, Independence Day.  Lets all remember those who are serving to insure our independence today (as always).

The Week Ahead
Highpower
 This coming weekend it's Match Rifle Championship weekend at Northstar Rifle Club.  The NRA championships will be held Saturday July 7-8, and the competition starts Saturday with the Team match.  Teams will be 4 shooters firing an 80 shot OTC match.  The individual competitions are scheduled for Sunday, July 8, and each shooter will fire the 80 shot regional match course of fire (OTC).  The NorthStar range is ready to go.  Members have worked hard, repairing the recent flood damage and I am sure that the matches will be as well run as are all those put on by NorthStar.
     Update on NorthStar from Capt. Bob:    
HP shooters:
"The North Star range is in good useable condition with a couple notes below. 
1.  We have been able to get only 13 each targets refaced (200 & 600) this means a limit of 13 teams.  The state record for teams is about 9 so this will not be an issue. 
It also means a limit of 39 shooters on Sunday.   I'm NOT going to 4 relays for just 2 or 3 shooters.  However, if I get at least 45 replies to this email saying you are coming I'll plan on 4 relays.  Thus far I have 3 paid entries & 1 phone entry. 
2.  I'm going to inspect the campground Tues. afternoon.  I believe there will be room to park 2 or 3 campers along the range road.  There is still a lot of dry mud where campers normally park near the trees.  With a little rain you would be parked in 3" of really slimy mud. The 100 yard line is solid and can hold a few tents. I'll have a campground update about dinner time Tues. 
3.  I understand the parking area in the pit has been cleared pretty well but I may be asking you to check with guys on your relay to carpool to the pits. 
Pits seal at 0845 both days please arrive NLT 0810.   Bob"
                      Click Here for Match Bulletin, map and entry info
      
300 M  International
The next 300 m International match at Mpls Rifle club will be this Sunday, July 8th. It's good to remember that these matches are shot from an air conditioned shooting house on targets 300m away while all shots are recorded on computer screens by each firing position. What better way to spend Sunday than pulling some triggers in air conditioned comfort !
  From Brian Shiffman:     
"The results of the June monthly MRC 300 meter match can be seen at
 Registration is now open for the July monthly 300 meter match to be held this Sunday, July 8th.  First relay starts at 10AM with a second relay beginning at noon.  Please email me your preference for first or second relay and I will confirm as I receive them.
 Beginning at the August 300 meter match, the match fee will increase to $20.  The current fee of $15 has been in effect since the earth was flat and we just have to keep up with the added costs we have in maintaining the electronic system.  This match will still be at $15."
 Late Note:  The first relay is full.  There are still spots open in the noon (second) relay.
Brian D. Shiffman  shiff004@umn.edu

Small Bore  
 Small bore position shooters are headed to the Hibbing Rifle and Pistol Club for the Minnesota Outdoor 3 and 4 Position State Championships. July 7th shooters will be firing 3 positions matches, and on Sunday, July 8th, they will be contesting the 4P matches.
   Click Here for the match bulletin and entry info.  

Last Weekend
  The State Champion Service Rifle shooter this year is M/Sgt Matt Griffin. The championship matches were fired this past weekend at NorthWestern Gun Club on Hunters Lake near Duluth, MN.  Matt dominated the prone matches, taking wins in the Prone Rapid fire match (198-3x), and the Prone Slow Fire match (199-9x).  James Pennington won the Standing Match with a steady 190-1x, and our North Dakota friend Coby Dalgliesh, took top prize in the Sitting Rapid fire match. Matt's aggregate score of 778-18x was enough to keep Kurt Borlaug (761) in 2nd place.
Results
  As important as a State Champ title is, for most of the non-distinguished service rifle shooters, it is really just a warm up for the Leg Match. This year two legs were were given out, and both winners came from the Expert class.  Ryan Holien won an 8 point leg to add to his 'distinguished points', and Lorne Smith took home a 6 point leg.  Congratulations guys--when you are hot, you are hot.  The Gold Medal was won by already Distinguished shooter, Coby Dalgleish, with a great score of 477-12x, while Ryan Holien (473-7x) added the Silver Medal to his already successful weekend.  Larry Weidell's  collection of leg medals grows larger as he takes home another Bronze Medal (468-9x).

   Seven rifle teams of 2 men each fired for honors in the Team match. Larry Weidell and James Pennington's "Misfit's" team came out on top with a great score of 567-11x and wins the State team Championship.  Good shooting guys.
                 Click Here for complete results incl. Leg Match

Mark Havik sends us and excellent 1 min.video of Kurt B. showing us proper form and timing in the 300 yd Rapid Fire match.  Click Here for Marks video.


Notes:
About the Pig Matches -- From Ron Berg:
"Hi Jim 
Attached is the match program for the piggy match on July 21-22 (Eau Claire rifle Club). Would you add this to your weekly newsletter you send out? The format has been changed.  This year, Saturday the 21st is a 4 gun 600yd match starting at 9am. Sunday the 22nd remains a 80 shot OTC starting at 9am also we need to get entries early  in order to plan on the number of people that will attend the pig feed.
Randy Gregory is the contact person to send entries to.     Program--click here
thanks, Ron"  

Two Weeks Out
July 14              CMP Games, M1's for Vets,  and vintage Sniper rifle match at GRRC
                            --  Program click here
July 15              Small Bore prone 1600 at MRC  -  Match program click here  
July 21-22         Minn State Long Range Champ at GRRC -- Match program click here
July 21-22         Pig Roast matches at Eau Claire  -  Match program click here

That's All Folks !
Hawkeye