Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Shooters News for the Minn Area - Sept. 25, 2012

Tim Thole and George Cwach win Leg Points at GRRC Leg match! 
Matt Cwach, George Cwach, and Tim Thole
 *Hd Video below

The Week Ahead
Traveling shooters will be heading east to Eau Claire, Wisc. this weekend for the end of the season matches at the Eau Claire Rifle Club.  Saturday, Sept. 29, prone shooters will have the opportunity to shoot a 4x20 Mid-range match. All 4 matches will be fired from the 600 yd line.  On Sunday, Sept 30, the action switches to an 80 shot 'Over the Course' style match, and shooters will fire 4 position matches from 200 to 600 yds.
    Click Here for match program and entry info.

Last Weekend  
300 meter International  at Mpls Rifle Club
From Brian Shiffman:
   Another fine day to shoot.  We have been very fortunate so far this year with good shooting weather.  Although there was only a little wind until about 11AM when it picked up a bit, it was still a day where skill was involved.  
   Chuck Diehl took me up on the statement I made in the email announcing the match and came with his dear gun, a 300 Win Mag!  He did not finish the match but I think he accomplished what he wanted to do.  He has other shoulder fired cannons for larger game.
   Greg Meller shot above his average and took first place in F class with a 595.  SecondPlace was 8 points back with third another point back and 4th place another one point back. 
   The most impressive shooter was Dick Nelson’s grandson, 11 year old Jake Olson who shot Dick’s competition AR15 with a bipod.  In addition to Dick and his wife, Jake’s parents were there, too; Jake handles pressure pretty well. 
    The 300 meter match for October will be on the 14th.  I will send email as the date approaches.
 Brian D. Shiffman  Shiff004@umn.edu 


Service Rifle Leg Match at Gopher Rifle and Revolver Club 
  On Saturday, Sept 22nd, GRRC hosted a Beginners 50 shot service rifle match.  Kurt Borlaug and Tom Toberg introduced a few new shooters to the sport of Highpower shooting, while a number of other folks used this opportunity to get in some needed practice for Sunday's upcoming Leg Match.  Everyone got a lot of practice reading the wind as the  peak gusts were up to 30 mph, and 20 mph gusts were common all day.  Click Here for Mark Havlik's excellent slide show of Sunday's Leg Match (with music!)
  Sunday dawned cold (34deg), but light wind and bright sunny sky's for the all important Leg Match. Since the match started at the 'reasonable' hour of 10:00, I knew that it would warm up to a really nice sunny fall day, and I headed up to GRRC. It would be just a 'fun' match for me as I got all my Leg points some years ago, and now I could just enjoy the day with maybe the hope of a Medal if my shooting went well.  I do like Leg matches, as it's a chance to shoot the service rifle (my favorite) and it's only 50 shots, so us old guys don't get too tired, and we only have to shoot 10 shots standing.  I was squaded with Britanny O. and David Ronning, and since they were really going for Leg points, I said I would take 3rd Relay and go to the pits first to pull targets while they shot in the calm conditions. Standing Match -- Nine shooters fired in the 90s for off hand scores with Carl Haagenson taking the match win with a 95-0x. No Xs?  No problem-- 95 still won the match. Kurt Borlaug was 2nd with a 94-3. As a matter of fact there were only 15 Xs total fired by the whole group.  I got a 91-2x, which was much better than I expected having not shot standing all summer and I started the Sitting Rapid Fire match still thinking I would be competitive for the day.  Well, that didn't last too long as I shot all over the target and got only a 94-4x.  Mark Havlik dominated the match with a 99-2x and took over the lead for the day with George Cwach just behind.  The 300 yd Prone Rapid Fire match put me out of contention, but Larry Weidell got to do the 'happy dance' after firing a clean target with 5 Xs and 5 tens to win that match. SSgt. Al Schneider was 2nd with 99-2x. 
   Moving back to the 600 yd line for the Prone Slow Fire match, It was George Cwach in the lead, down just 13 pts for theday, with Larry Weidell and Tim Thole just a couple pts back.  
      
Complete Results
   Now the pressure was on. An 8pt, and a 6 pt leg were on the table.  The scores were close, and the wind was gusting to 19 mph.  When it was my turn, I put on 6 clicks of  left windage and fired the first shot into the 10 ring. Yes!  With no sighters in a leg match, its important to get that first shot in the middle or you could be out of it right away.  I took a little time watching the wind to get the next shot off.   It looked good through the sights, but came up a 7, straight out the left on the water line.  The wind had dropped while I was on the gun.  As I looked in the scope, I could see that all the shot spotters on the other targets were either up-wind or down-wind.  The wind gusts were making us all humble.  All of us except Tim Thole. Tim played the wind gusts like a fine violin and put every shot in the 10s and Xs except for 4 nines.  His 196-5x was 8 pts higher than the best that Matt Cwach could do for 2nd in the match, or Ross Opsahl's 186 for 3rd.
    Click Here for 1080 HD Video of this Match. Select HD, full screen, and turn up the volume!  
                  
    When the scores were added up, It was Tim Thole who would be the Match Winner, with a great score of 480-8x. No cheap Leg Points here!  Tim wins the 8pt Leg and that brings him up to (I think) 20 pts total.  George Cwach (471-9x) won the 6 pt leg and is now up to 22 pts, on his way to a Distinguished Rifleman's badge with Tim T.   First Leather goes to Matt Cwach -465-10x.
   Congratulations to Tim T. and George C. --- Great Shooting!  

Small Bore 
Last week we shot a prone 1600 at the little used, but very nice  Elk River Sportsman's Club Sm Bore Range.  Unfortunately, I didn't notice the range sign and get a picture of it. this range is named after club member and long time shooter Ed Hassig. 
From Leo Huhta:
Lest We Forget---

ED Hassig - 3rd from Rt
Ed Hassig was Born Oct 10, 1910  In Devils Lake No Dakota
    He entered the Marines in 1929 and retired 27 1/2 years later as a Warrant Officer
Prior to WW2 Ed shot rifle competition in the Philippines
He was stationed for a number of years at Wake Island and was part of the troops
establishing defenses on Wilkes Island one of three islets forming Wake Island.
2 days after Pearl Harbor was attacked Wake Island was also attacked.  After 13 days of attacks by the Japanese, Major James Devereux Commanding officer of the Wake Island detachment of the Wake Island troops was forced to surrender on Dec 22 1941.
    Ed spent the remaining 4 years of WW2 at a POW camp in China called Woo Sung Forest south of Shanghi close to Manchuria
Ed’s brother was also killed in Europe during these 4 years.
While in the POW camp our troops learned of the end of the war by listening to a contraband radio.  Ed mentioned that the Formosan troops guarding the POW camp were good people and that our men were not treated badly.
    After the war Ed stayed in the Marines and was stationed in the Hawaiian Islands for 8 years and continued to shoot both Rifle and pistol competitively. Earning Distinguished badges in the 50’s in both events. His rifle shooting was with a 03 Springfield NRA Match Rifle and said that the Garand wasn’t as good as the Springfield at longer distances.
Ed started shooting NRA registered matches in 1956 and began attending 2 or 3 per year.
While still in the service Ed meet his wife in San Diego and they married in 1950. After 53 years of marriage, his wife passed away in 2003.
    After retiring from the Marines in 1957 Ed and his wife moved to Minneapolis where they joined family members.
Ed joined the NorthStar rifle range, which was later
closed and merged with the St Louis Park sportsman’s club, now the Elk River Sportsman’s club.
    At that time the Elk River sportsman’s club property was a bit bare, however with the help of the Minnesota National guard who also needed a range to shoot.  Equipment was brought in and helped our members prepare most of the ranges on the club property helping to build berms and the individual ranges.
     Ed was responsible for hauling dirt, and grass along the small bore firing line, setting the firing lines, and continued to haul water and maintain the range to it current shape with the threes being planted in approx 1990. After getting the current range up and running many regional and sectional matches were held here at the Elk River club. In later years, with the help of John Erickson who also took care of the range but did a lot with a major junior shooting program.
   Ed continued to shoot rifle matches in the area, especially at the University of Minnesota, various matches in Wisconsin and also at the Nationals in Camp Perry.
He also held many regional and sectional matches here at the Elk River Sportsman’s club.
He continuing to be involved in both Hi power and smallbore matches helping out in the running of both for a number of years.
   By listening to Ed and seeing the trophies dating back to the 50’s in his living room
There is proof he has attended more than a few matches in his days.
Ed said that a Springfield or a Mod70 Win is his preferred Hi Power rifle and he shoots an Anschutz for a small bore rifle.
When I asked him about air rifle shooting he commented it’s not the same as shooting good ammunition because an air rifle is like eating chocolate cake without frosting on it.
    Ed’s other hobbies have been building beautiful tables from wood he shipped over from Hawaii. Ed has created checkerboards from veneer woods and many other wood working projects  All finished to look like fine rifle stocks.
    Since the death of his wife in 2003 he now has a 10-mile driving restriction, so it’s difficult for him to get to the range. Any volunteers available to get Ed to the range from Crystal might be very welcome in the future.

    Semper Fi, Ed.  It was men like you who drove me to become a Marine. You guys were my hero's!  -- and still are today.    

Notes:
When the shooting season is over and you have too much time on your hands, you can build this Lego sniper rifle-- Click here    

 Two Weeks Out
Oct 6,7  Full Bore and Long Range at GRRC - Click Here for Match bulletin

That's All Folks
Hawkeye

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Shooters News for the Minn Area - Sept 18, 2012

The Week Ahead
Dig out that Service Rifle and at least 50 rds of ammo. The end of season service rifle Leg Match weekend is being held at Gopher Rifle and Revolver Club this Saturday (9/22), and Sunday (9/23).
  The weekend starts out Saturday  with a beginner match.
  From Kurt Borlaug:
"Purpose of this match is to familiarize new Highpower shooters to the sport in a low-impact environment. Coaching will be available for new shooters. This will include the all important phase of pulling targets in the pits. Please contact Kurt if you need gear. There will be rifles available (AR15 type) and suitable ammo on a limited basis at .50 cents per round."     Click here for Match bulletin and entry info

Experienced shooters and leg point seekers alike can use Saturday's match as a 'full course' tune up for Sundays Leg Match.

The Sunday forecast is for 66 deg, wind 5-10 WSW, and Sunshine. What more can you ask for?
  Whether you are a beginning shooter, a leg point zealot, or an old hand that hasn't had the Service Rifle out in a while, this is a good match for you.  It's a 50 shot match, so you only have to shoot 10 shots standing (I like that), but you still get the fun of Sitting and Prone rapid fire, and a full string 20 shots prone slow fire.  You can even sleep in an extra hour, as this match starts at the leisurely hr. of 10 am. There are leg points and medals on the table for prizes. We encourage all 'non distinguished' service rifle shooters to shoot this match and support the Civilian Marksmanship Program.  See you there?
                Click here for match bulletin and entry info

Last Weekend  
 Mpls. Rifle Club OTC matches -- Results not available. I do know that our MRRA Pres., George Minerich shot a new personal record score.  Good shooting George!

Small Bore Prone 1600 at Elk River Sportsmen's Club
Ed Hassig Sm Bore Range at ERSC
  This last SB prone match of the season was shot under just about the best conditions of any match this summer. It was 65 deg, Sunshine, and very little wind to worry about all day.  More than a doz. competitors took advantage of the mild conditions to shoot under the shade of the old Maple trees behind the line at ERSC Sm Bore range.  The Juniors outnumbered the adults 3 to 1, and also shot most of the highest scores.  Gabe Staufer from Iowa came up to join us for the day in only his 2nd prone SB match.  We hope to see Gabe back again next year.    
   The 50 yd match was the first competition of the day, and intermediate junior Carmen F. fired the top score of 399-22x. Jim Biles was taking advantage of the Senior Scope class, and also had a 399 but was 1 X short of the win.  Jim also fired a 399 in the Dewar match where shooters shoot one target at 50 yds and one at 100yds.  Just one point behind in that match, and using Iron sights, and were Juniors Nick Learn, and Eric Hazelton.   In the 100 yd match, it was Erick H, who again fired a 199 score on each target to win with 398-19x.   Going into the last match of the day, Erick H. was leading all the Iron sight shooters, but just a few pts ahead of Carmen F., and Nick Learn.  The 50 m match, or the "meter" match as it is known, is the hardest target.  There is just no room for error on that tiny 10- ring.  If the shot isn't perfect, it isn't a 10.  Junior, Nick Learn made the fewest mistakes and scored a solid 396 to lead the Iron sight shooters. It wasn't good enough though, as Eric H., and Carmen F. shot 395's, and would remain ahead in the days aggregate scores.
Complete Results - click to expand
   The match winner and highest score for the day was Jim Biles with a 1594-98x - Senior scope class. A couple more scores like that and Jim might get that Master Card.
   The Iron sight match winner was Jr. Eric Hazleton, who fired an awesome 1587-89x, to beat Carmen F, and Nick L. by just 2 pts over all.  Even though I ended up 14 pts back, it was a really great day to be out on the range pulling triggers with a lot of good folks.  Thanks to Chris Hazleton for running this Match.

 Notes: 
Remember -
 The Vintage Military match at MRC, scheduled for Sept 22 is cancelled.
Sept 22  --  Beginner Service and HP rifle match at GRRC -- Click Here for match bulletin
Sept 23  --  Service Rifle Leg Match At GRRC -- Click Here for match bulletin

Two Weeks Out
Sept 29, 30  -- Mid Range and OTC at Eau Claire - Click Here for match bulletin
Oct. 6-7       --  Fullbore prone, and Long Range at GRRC - Click Here for match program

That's all Folks

Hawkeye

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Shooters News for the Minn Area - Sept 11, 2012


9/11 Another Day that will live in infamy - Lest we forget.              
Long Range wind -- M. Dietrich

The Week ahead  

  Fall has arrived and that means great weather for shooting rifle matches.  This weekend will prove no exception to that rule.  There are three good rifle matches to choose from, and the forecast is for mild temps and nice fall Sunshine.
  Now that everyone is rested up from the big Mid Range Regional at NWGC last weekend, it's time to dig out the Over the Course Rifle and head to Mpls Rifle Club this coming Sat and Sunday (Sept 15-16).  Just a few miles North of Mpls. in Anoka Cty, the Mpls Rifle Club is great place to shoot a low key fun OTC match. Shooting from covered firing lines at both the 200 and 300 yd lines makes for a comfortable day. This will be a great opportunity to practice up for that all important "Leg Match" at GRRC in two weeks - don't miss it!  New shooters always welcome.
                     Click Here for match bulletin and map info. 
   If you are not an OTC shooter, then you probably are a "Prone" shooter, and there is a great match for you on Sunday.  Chris Hazelton will be hosting a 160 shot Prone Sm Bore match at the Elk River SportsMen's Club on Sunday, Sept. 16th.  We don't get to shoot at this range but once a year and as I said last week -- nice grass firing lines under the shade of the large Oak trees makes this range a pleasant place to hone your prone skills.  160 shots prone with instant feedback will be great practice for the up coming Mid Range match at Eau Claire, and the Long Range matches later on at GRRC.  Hitting the 10 ring at 100 yds with a Sm bore rifle and trying to shoot a clean 200 is every bit as hard as doing it at 500 yds with a Highpower rifle.  This is the best practice for HP prone matches you will ever get - See you there?  
       Click Here for math bulletin and entry info

Last Weekend   

Steve Knutson -  Mid Range Champion
9/11 Mid Range Regional
The long anticipated fall trip up to NorthWestern Gun Club for the 9/11 Mid Range Prone matches came and went this past weekend.  This year, the weekends matches were also the Regional Championships for the areas Mid Range shooters, and that made it even better.  An early start (0515 hrs) from the WhiteBear Lake area got me up to the range, just East of the Cloquet River, on the shores of Hunter Lake by 0730, in plenty of time to socialize with shooters I don't get to see as often as I'd like to.  
  The turn out was great -- about 3 shooters short of a full line.  This match has become very popular in the last few years. I think due to the well trimmed, great condition this range is always in, thanks to Dale Wickstrom and the rest of the guys, and the beautiful setting. 
Saturday
Tough Conditions Sat at the 300 yd line - rain
   First shots down range from the 300 yd line at 0900 were in the first "Any' sight match.  I was on pit duty for the first two relays.  The first shooter on my target was Dave Salo, who started off the day with a 200-11x and then up was Mike Theis with a 199-13x. It was going to be a tough day -- lose a couple pts and you are out of it.  Back to the firing line, I went to the line with my 6BR tack driver, but wiggled one shot out into the 9 ring, so the 14 Xs didn't count for much.  Five shooters had fired 200s, with Steve Knutson setting the bar very high with his 17 Xs. Other 'clean' shooters were Dale Wickstrom, Brad Ylinieni, and Dick Van Valkenburg.  The 2nd 'Any' sight match was won with an awesome score of 200-17x by Mike Theis, but only on a tie breaker over Steve (Knute) Knutson, who also fired a 17x clean to stay in the lead for the day. Mike missed tieing a National Senior record by 1 X. So near, yet so far!  Your's truly held for a 3rd place 200-13x and this would be my best of the weekend. Erik Rhode also fired clean, as did Chad Danielson, who cut his teeth on Sm Bore prone shooting, and is in only his first year of HP prone competition.  
   The last two matches of the day were fired with "Iron" sights", and again it was Steve K., who won the first of them with and amazing Iron score of 200-16x. Phil Klanderude was finally settling in to his usual good form and fired the only other 200 score.  At this point, Steve K. had dropped no points -- That's right - 3 matches down, and 3 clean 200's posted on the board. Now it was starting to rain!  The pressure was on. the sky was dark. Few people have ever fired a perfect 800/800 in these matches.  Those last 20 shots must have been nerve wracking, but even though it was raining heavily and the visibility was poor, Steve used his Eliseo Tube gun to shoot between the rain drops and fire another incredible clean 200-13x score and ended the day with a perfect 800/800 including 63- X shots along the way !!!!  Is that a record of some kind???
   Four pts. back were Brian Mrnak, and Phil Klanderude with 796s taking 2nd and 3rd, but they must have been shaking their heads about how could they could they possibly beat a guy that drops no points. Well tomorrow is tomorrow, the sky was clearing, and it's 4 new matches from the 500 yd line to go before the champion is crowned.   
Sunday
   The day would be clear sky, but windy with gusts that would plague the inattentive shooter.  Again we would start with the Any sight matches as often there is a little fog at this range early in the day.  While the sky was clear and sunny, there was a heavy mirage running and this would cause elevation problems for many shooters. 
   Eric Hazelton, a Junior shooter who has been setting the Sm Bore world on fire, and is in his first full season of occasional HP prone shooting, used the first match of the day to to show all the regular HP shooters how much you can learn in SB prone matches, by firing the only clean 200, and taking the day's early lead.  Erick R. and Dick VV topped the Master class with 198s.   In the 2nd match, it was again Stave K, and Mike T. who fired the highest scores with 200-13x each, but this time it was Steve who took the win on tie breakers.  Phil K. holding close but 6 Xs back, and Chad Danielson again putting up the highest Master class score. In the 3rd match, it was Craig Bennis, who finally got a match win to cap off a great weekends performance, after losing just 5 pts. all day Saturday. Junior, Eric Hazelton takes a 2nd, and Leo Huhta gets the Ex class win with a 195-8x. In the last match of the day, Steve K. wrapped up the weekend's Grand Aggregate, and took another match win with his 200-10x score. Erik Rhode was 2nd with the only other 200 score and that was also a master class win. 
Mid Range winners - Steve K., Phil K., Brian M.
   Congratulations to Steve Knutson whose awesome score of 1595-110x over the two days shooting, earned him the Gold Medal and the Regional Championship.  Phil Klanderude's steady high scores earn him the Silver medal.  Brian Mrnak is the Bronze medal winner.            
            Mid Range Regional  (Sling class) complete results -- Click Here 

On the F-class side of the line, it was Adam Shidla, and Jon Clauson who stole the show. Adam S. won the first F-open match with 200-13x, and then Jon took the next 3 matches to tie Adam, each with 797 for the day, but Jon getting the most Xs and the day's win.  

   In the FTR class, John Andres wins the first match, but Edward Higgens takes the last 3 matches and scores one more pt than John A, for the day's FTR high score.
  Sunday 
Jon Clauson- FClass Gold
   The BIG story on Sunday in the F-open class is all about Jon Clauson, who did not drop a point in the four 20 shot matches. Jon's perfect (clean) 800-72x score is probably a National Record.  Jon fired an amazing 200-18x score in each one of the four 500 yd matches.  Think about this --- Jon only let 8 shots of 80, slip out of that microscopic f-class X-ring into the 10ring-- from 500 yds!!!   Jon wins the F-open championship with a 1597-135x while Adam Shidla is just back  4pts in 2nd place.  
F-Class MR Results (Click to expand)
  FTR class was won convincingly by Eward Higgins, his 1577-74x weekend score is 30 pts ahead of 2nd place.

300 m International   

   No results of last weeks matches forwarded 

Minnesota St. Offhand Championship  

 The Highpower Offhand St. Championship was held at Mpls. Rifle Club on Aug. 25th.  Shooters fired five 20 shot offhand matches from 200 yds on the SR target.  Dick Van Valkenberg shot a 190-5 to start things off with a win in the first match.  Kevin Bangen's 188 takes a 2nd.  Dick was just getting started with that win, and continued to improve in the next two matches, taking wins in both with 192 and 193 scores.  Brad Yliniemi had a rough start in the first match, but struggled back with a 189 and a 190 to move into 2nd place for the day.  Brad knew that it isn't over till it's over and fought hard in the last 2 matches of the day, winning both with scores of 191 and 193. Brad had the momentum at the end but could not overcome the deficit from that first match and ended up just 5 points back in 3rd place.   Dick Van Valkenberg had held on for a score of 947, and is the Minnesota State Offhand Champion.  Kevin Bangen finishes 3 pts back in 2nd place over all.    Click Here for complete results  
Congratulations to Dick Van Valkenberg -- St. Champ!  

Small Bore Prone Championship at Hibbing -  August 25-26    

10 Master Class Sm Bore Prone shooters showed up at Hibbing to fight it out for the SB prone championship.  In the end it was a great battle between Larry Sawyer and Emily Quniar. In 6 of the 8 contested matches, Larry was able to put just one or two pts more on the board than Emily and his 3188-216x earns him the Championship.  Congratulations to Larry Sawyer -- 2012 Minn. St. Sm bore Prone Champion. 
Eric Hazelton is High Junior with an excellent score of 3177-187x, and Junior Nick Learn just one pt back.  
Rumor has it that Eric is planning to enter the 4 days of the WildCat matches in Phoenix next March -- watch out expert class!!
    Click Here for complete Results

North Dakota Long Range St Championship

Local top Sm Bore Prone shooter, Morgan Dietrich, travelled to Bismark, No, Dak, last weekend to show the HP shooters there how much a little Sb prone practice will pump up your scores, and he did just that.  He won the Gold Medal -- Congratulations!!!
From Morgan Dietrich
"Jim:
 Ventured to Bismarck this last weekend to shoot the LR Regional.  Tough choice between there and Duluth, but I wanted to shoot my 284 to see if I had a  load that will work for next year.  
 Let’s just say the wind was more than breezy, but since Bismarck is an open range it is very fair to all on the line.  The picture of the flag is about 8:30 am on Sat, I ran between 7min up to 11 min of Windage.  Sunday the winds were the same, but in a completely opposite direction.  Tommy Thompson ran a great match, it really is a nice range.  If you haven’t shot at Bismarck yet, you should plan on making a trip out West.
 Looked back at my score from 2 years ago, and it was a 972-41, so I guess it always blows hard out there- or at least when I go.  Nice showing of new F-class shooters." 
 
 Results: Sling and F-class





Good shooting Morgan. I think I'd keep that .284 and tks for the match report. Is that Coby Dalgliesh in the photo? Haven't seen him in a long while.  
Notes: 
1. The Vintage Military match at MRC, scheduled for Sept 22 is cancelled.

Two Weeks Out
Sept 22  -- Beginner Service rifle Team match at GRRC -- Click Here for match bulletin
Sept 23  --  Service Rifle Leg Match At GRRC -- Click Here for match bulletin
Sept 29, 30  -- Mid Range and OTC at Eau Claire - Click Here for match bulletin
Oct. 6-7       --  Fullbore prone, and long Range at GRRC - Click Here for match program

That's all Folks

Hawkeye

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Shooters News for the Minn Area - Sept 5, 2012

The Week Ahead
   They say that fall is coming tomorrow - That today is the last hot day of the summer. I'm ready for that.  I prefer the cooler weather.
500 yd line at NWGC
   The forecast for this weekends matches at NorthWestern Gun Club, Duluth is for perfect weather. That's great because on tap is the hugely popular, "9/11"  Mid Range Regional Prone matches. It will be two days of comfortable prone competition at 300 and 500 yds. This is a match that shooters mark on their calendars way in advance because advance entries are usually necessary to claim a spot on the line, and because the range at NWGC is one of the nicest that you could ever shoot on. With the lake in the background, and the leaves turning color, it makes for a great day - especially if you shoot a good score.   Saturday's matches will all be at the 300 yd line with shooters firing 2 twenty shot matches for record with Iron sights (sling class) and two matches with "Any Sights".  On Sunday the action moves back to the 500 yd line, and the course of fire will be the same as on Saturday - 2 matches with Irons and 2 with "any" sights.
  In mid range matches I prefer to shoot my AR space gun in .223 cal with the Iron sights. The gun will shoot Xs all day if I point it there, and it's an easy gun to shoot.  For the scope matches, I'll bring along the 6BR.  This gun is harder to shoot, because it doesn't fit me as well as the AR, but it will drill Xs.  Having two guns means I won't have to change sights between matches. I am definitely looking forward to the weekend at NWGC. See you there?                Click here for Match bulletin and entry
   I'd call to check on entries before Driving--
Elliot Zunich email: sveti_ilija@northlc.com  218-348-3029

Being from the upper Midwest, I (we) are usually not comfortable shooting in hot weather. When it gets up into the 90s with a little humidity, we wilt and whine.  Our shooting friends in the SouthWest shoot matches all summer with the temps in the 110s and no wonder why they think that Camp Perry is Cool and comfortable.   This following came to me from Mike Toliver after a Mid Range 500 at Rio Salado range last week.  I think we can appreciate shooting there in such conditions.

"RSSC August Prone Match
The match started humid and sticky and then it just got hot. It was kind of like being covered in molasses and set afire. The guns didn’t seem to care and the payback for the heat was mild conditions. Some good scores were shot as a result."  

70 degs, Fall Sunshine, this weekend at NWGC sounds a whole lot better to me.


1994 Minn State Service Rifle Team
300 meter international
From Brian Shiffman-
Hi all,
   This Sunday, September 8 the Minneapolis Rifle Club will hold its September monthly 300 meter match.  The first relay will start at 10 AM and the second relay at noon.  Relay spots will be filled on a first come first served basis.  Email your desired relay selection and I will acknowledge as they are received.
    Match fee increased to $20 in August.  The match is open to any shooter as long as the rules of the electronic targeting system and the range are followed.  No expanding bullets of any kind; only bullets specifically designated as Match or Full Metal Jacket (not plated).  Bullets must be supersonic at 300 meters.  NO barrel porting, compensators or muzzle breaks.  Any shoulder fired caliber is OK as long as the other rules are followed.  Got a .300 Win Mag? use it here.  Single loading of rounds, no magazine loads.
 See you at the range,
Brian D. Shiffman   shiff004@umn.edu

Two Weeks out  
The Last chance to participate in one of the Prone Small Bore matches is coming up on Sept 16th.  Chris Hazleton is putting on this match at the very nice, but little used Elk River Sportsmen's club small bore range.  This range has nice grass firing lines, shaded by large trees, and is a very pleasant place to shoot prone matches.   The "Outdoor Conventional Prone" small bore matches consist of eight 20 shot matches at distances of 50 to 100 yds.  There is no better way to practice prone shooting than in prone small bore matches.  With every shot, you get instant feedback of your wind call. This is why most good long range shooters also shoot Sm bore prone matches.  

Sept. 15,16th  -- 80 shot OTC at MRC  -- Click Here for match bulletin
Sept. 16th       -- Sm Bore Prone at ERSC  -  Click Here for match bulletin 

That's All Folks 
Hawkeye