Shooters News -- The Week ahead -- Jan 24, 2011

The Week Ahead -  Shooters News for the MN area  -- Jan 24 th, 2011
 

The Mpls. Rifle Club will host a Saturday winter league match for OTC, MRP & F class shooters, Jan. 29.  Show time is 12:30 pm for first shot at 1:00pm. OTC will shoot a 50 shot NMC all at 300M scaled to represent the standard SR targets.
Because of problems with the electronic targets in the cold weather, the league fee has been changed to $10.00 per match.. Please try to be to the range by 12:30.
Please contact George Minerich if you have any questions at (320) 968-6898 or minerich@clearwire.net  

Out of Town match -

Service rifles from all Eras-- Rio Salado, Mesa AZ, Jan 1
Pictures, videos and Rpt.    Click Here

Is your Spotting Scope Too Good?
Your spotting scope might be costing you points!   It may be too Good!  
How is that possible?  Read article --  Click Here    

Wind reading clinic
From: Scott Olson (Elk river Sportsmans club)
Hello Shooters,

Just got a confirmation from Steve Knutson regarding the wind clinic.  Below is the plan, mark you calendars! Those of you who have not shot in a match before, don't be concerned. This is going to be promoted as sort of a starter match with just a short match on Saturday before the clinic.  Those of you who don't have any interest in competitive shooting but want to learn more about reading the wind and how it effects bullets at longer distances are welcome to attend also.  There will be a separate fee for those who wish to attend

the clinic portion but not participate in the match. 

Steve Knutson is a world class shooter with a lifetime of experience in competitive shooting.  Steve is also a coach for the National US F-class team.  Steve, along with another US F-class coach Rick Hunt, will give insight and tips on how to develop the skills necessary to accurately shoot in the wind.  Heck, they might even give some coaching and tips not related to wind too.  This is a chance to learn from the best coaches this country has to offer!

Elk River Sportman's Club will host a Mid Range Prone/F-class match (approved) for April 16th and 17th, 2011. Shoot a 44 shot match at 300 Saturday morning, then lunch and the classroom portion of the clinic.  Saturday afternoon, following the lunch, we move the clinic to the range at 600 with firing and real world demonstrations when conditions for wind and mirage are best on the range.  Then on Sunday, the 17th, we hold an 88 shot 600 yard match like the old 4-gun 600yds matches of years past.  I'll incorporate the clinic fee, lunch and match fees all into one price. 

 Proposed Match Bulletin (This will be an NRA Approved Match, following all NRA rules) 

 Saturday April 16th:

44 shots at 300 yds.  (2 relays of 2 sighters and 20 shots for record) MRP/F-class

Lunch and classroom clinic. Clinic moves to 600 yard line with firing demonstrations

 Sunday April 17th:

88 shots at 600 yds.  (4 relays of 2 sighters and 20 shots for record) MRP/F-class

Awards Ceremony and Discussion

Drop me a note or call is you have any questions or concerns.  This event may be limited to the first 80 paid competitors based on range capacity.  I will get a bulletin made and sent out in the next week or so. Let your friends who may be interested but I missed in this email know too!

See you in April,---Scott Olson,    President Elk River Sportsman's Club-- pullbanger@aol.com
Thanks Scott

From Bob Peasley

Gents:

I have access to an "adequate supply" of 308  LR and .223 Match ammo.  The supplier and myself wish to promote prone team shooting. Thus we are proposing a Palma or mini Palma team course. Most likely it would be a mini Palma fired at 3, 5 & 600 yards at North Star.

There would most likely be a M1A division if there are enough guys who want to make an M1A team. There would be a 308 bolt gun division and a 223 division. If there are enough there could be a 223 space gun and 223 service rifle division. This will not be your run of the mill shoot any rifle, all star team event.  The intention is to get more guys & gals shooting team prone. 

 How do we do that?

Does FREE AMMO trip your trigger?

So here's the deal.  Each team will be issued 60 rounds per shooter of LC 852LR

or LC .223 match 77. Yep, you will all shoot issue ammo. This will be enough for 10 sighters + 15 at 300 yds + 2 & 15 @ 5 & 600.

As I said the intent is to tweak the interest in Palma shooting but we feel that a "real" Palma course might still be to intimidating for some and the 223 might be "inadequate" for 8, 9 & 1000. With that in mind here are a couple questions for you.

1. Would your serious belly shooters be interested in loaning your 308 or 223 rifle to 1 or 2 of your team mates to be fired under your coaching?  This would be only for a classified shooter who did not have a match type 223 or 308. We want to encourage new belly shooters but NOT right off the turnip truck with ZERO match experience.

2. There will be NO ALL STAR teams. Would you be willing to participate and shoot on a make up team?

I do not have a date in mind as of yet and there are not many available.   I may try to make it the same weekend as the Garand's only MRP funn match which I leaning toward July 2-3.  Both would be $5.00 or $6.00 entry fees and not approved by NRA with a possible cook out on Sat.

There are many other details to work out but before I go to a lot of trouble I'll need to hear from you.

I do not think there is enough ammo to include F class guys in this and most of them are not shooting 308 & 223 anyway.

Feel free to promote this among your fellow club members or anyone who might be willing to give it a try.  HOLDHARD,

Capt. Bob 

Service Rifle Team
From: Kurt Borlaug 
Well boys, the days are getting longer and just a short time to the long drive to Perry. Just wanted to let everyone know that if you are planning to attend Perry and are a likely Infantry match shooter  I have a favor to ask.
  We will be loading the same recipe as last year except we'll be using Hornady 75gr HPBT bullets. Powder is 23.7gr Varget. Those of you who wish to be considered for the IT team please set aside some components and pick up some of the Hornady bullets. If you could have some ready ammo, I am asking that we do some drilling after OTC matches around the state. Likely scenario is that we shoot at 600 or 500 for 20-30 rounds with a mag change. Actual powder choice is up to you for your practice ammo, but the final recipe will be Varget. Reloader 15 is considered nearly identical so that is an option if you already have it. I will supply targets and repair faces for the clubs we practice at.
  We will have another team practice in July and final team selection will be made at that time. I am loading the team ammo in the next week. There will be enough for zeroing and a full run-through during the team practice. 
  Prices on primers have dropped significantly since last year and are looking in good supply. Powder has dropped a bit too. I've seen the Hormady bullets on sale at Natchez and Powder Valley. 200 rounds of your own for IT practice is a reasonable number.
Thanks much and Happy New Year,
 Kurt

More from Kurt
  Gentlemen, I saw a brief hint of sunshine yesterday which means that spring is just around the corner..........sure it is. In any case the subject of how to run our GRRC HP practice schedule has arisen and I wanted to get input on a new format.
Session 1) 30 minutes slow-fire at 200 yards. Stress yourself for a longer period of time than 20 minutes, or use some of the time for sighters in sitting.
Session 2) Rapids at 200 and 300. Relay changes required to eliminate re-pasting of centers. Sighters and two strings at each line
Session3) 600 slow-fire plus Infantry for those interested/required for Perry.
Repeat each session each week. I believe that the focus, especially on offhand will be more beneficial than last years scrambling about from 200-300. Start times will be PROMPTLY at 5:30. We will divide into two groups and will rotate so that light is not monopolized.
Infantry; we will run 50 second exposures and Mn. Team shooters will make mag changes (at least one) during the strings. Time and volunteers allowing, we will run two strings each night. One at 600 and the next at 500. Plan on 40 rounds per session for those IT shooters, above the 600 slow-fire ammo. Short line ammo will probably require about 500 for the season's practice, and 140 for the 600 slow-fire practices.
  Also, with the logging plan going this month and next we should have a bevy of hardware available for the willow reduction. I was told by someone who knows that a Bobcat could set it's bucket down and scrape that stuff right off......I have to believe him as I've seen this guy work with one. I think he could fillet a walleye with a knife attached to his. In any case if there i anyone who could maybe scout out the area with a snowmobile and pack down some trails that would be great. We'll be looking at the later part of January and into February for the logging. We will lay waste to the east and west ends of the north end of KD range. There are several trees that need to come down near Island shed too. I want the bank of scrub between the 200 and 300, east side down also. I will have the plan available during the next GMM mtg.
Thanks, Kurt

NorthStar Rifle Club - High Power Clinic
by Capt Bob Peasley
The North Star Rifle Club winter meeting will most likely be at Gander Mt. Lakeville on Sat. Feb. 5 at 1300. I am planning on another clinic open to all clubs at 0930. Other clubs & non members are invited to attend this clinic. This years very boring but very important topic will be MATCH OPERATIONS. I'll try to cover everything you need to know about being the BIG CHIEF IN CHARGE. Stuff like NRA rules (big subject) NRA programs, courses of fire, range preparation, squadding, types of targets, awards, results bulletins AND more!

Interesting Blog Visits:   
One of the interesting things about running my blog is to see where people are coming from who visit the Blog. Since the first week in Dec. I have been keeping tract of the origin of some of the more interesting places where people who visit this blog are from.

 Click Here 

to see a list from the last month and a half.

Eugene Fachini Has left the Range

Eugene Fachini of Las Vegas, NV (formerly of Chisholm, MN) passed away on January 6 at the age of 80 years old.  Gene was a Distinguished Rifleman and President's 100 member who started shooting with the Minnesota National Guard Team in 1967.  He won the Individual Match Rifle Championship at the National Guard Championship Rifle Matches in Little Rock, AR in 1971.  In 1972 he was a firing member of the Minnesota National Guard Rifle Team that won the National Championship in Little Rock.  During his shooting years he was also an active member of the All Guard Shooting Team.  He attained the rank of Captain and after retiring from the Army National Guard, he moved to Las Vegas.  For a number of years he was an active vendor at gun shows in Nevada and Arizona.

     We are diminished.

Berger Bullets SouthWest Long Range Nationals

Don't Miss it -- the weather is warm:  Click Here

That's all folks
Hawkeye

Interesting Blog visits

One of the interesting things about running this blog is to see where people are coming from who visit this Blog. Since the first week in Dec. I have been keeping tract of the origin of some of the more interesting places where people who visit this blog are from.
 Click Here 
to see a list from the last month and a half.

Eugene Fachini has Left the Range

Eugene Fachini of Las Vegas, NV (formerly of Chisholm, MN) passed away on January 6 at the age of 80 years old.  Gene was a Distinguished Rifleman and President's 100 member who started shooting with the Minnesota National Guard Team in 1967.  He won the Individual Match Rifle Championship at the National Guard Championship Rifle Matches in Little Rock, AR in 1971.  In 1972 he was a firing member of the Minnesota National Guard Rifle Team that won the National Championship in Little Rock.  During his shooting years he was also an active member of the All Guard Shooting Team.  He attained the rank of Captain and after retiring from the Army National Guard, he moved to Las Vegas.  For a number of years he was an active vendor at gun shows in Nevada and Arizona.
     We are diminished.

Out of Town match - Service rifles from all eras-- Rio Salado, Mesa AZ, Jan 11

It was a beautiful day to shoot a Curio and Relics match at Rio Salado Sportsman's club, in mesa AZ.  27 shooters showed up to take advantage of temps in the 60s, light wind, and plenty of Sunshine to have some fun pulling triggers.  Half of the shooters used obsolete military rifles and contested the day on standard SR-1 targets, while the "hot dogs" used AR-15s and M-14s and shot on reduced targets, to practice for the big Washington's Birthday Match coming up next month.  Between 50 and 80 four man teams are expected to enter this match, which will be the 119th continous year this match has been held.
   Click here for Washington's Birthday Match program and entry 
   Ron Foos shooting Sitting Rapid fire Click Here        (video)
  Mike Floyd shooting Prone Rapid fire at Rio Salado Click Here     (video)
 

The winner of the C &R division was Bill Poole shooting a Swedish Mauser and scoring very fine 473.  The winner of the modern service rifle class was the old fart writing this rpt with a respectable 486-18x shot on those pesky reduced targets.
A fun time was had by all !

Berger Bullets SouthWest Long Range Nationals

Make your plans now! 5 days of prone Long Range shooting.  The Berger Bullets South West Long Range Nationals are being held at Ben Avery shooting Facility in Phoenix AZ on Jan 26th thru Jan 30, 2011. There will be one MR Full bore match, 2 days of Palma plus team shooting, and 2 days of 1000yd plus team events.
                     Click Here for event Program   

Out of Town Match Dec 26 2010

A few folks got together the Day after Christmas and shot a 500 yd match at Rio Salado, Mesa Az. Twenty Two sling and F-class trigger pullers took advantage of the almost perfect conditions to post some high scores. What a great day!
Tom Albinito won the match with a 597-28x shooting a Tubb 2K 6mm BR
I got my highest score in a long while shooting an Anchutz/RPA .308 built by Randy Gregory

300m Rifle Prone Women - 2010 ISSF World Championship in Munich

Out of Town Match - Phoenix rod and gun Club - Metric Sm Bore Dec 24 2010

Seven hardy soles braved the desert cold, to punish themselves trying to shoot 10s on those incredibly hard UIT metric targets Christmas Eve morning. While the temp was only 44 deg to start, it warmed up quickly into the 50's and with the wind almost not a factor till the last targets of this 1200 pt match, it was a great day to pull some triggers.

Peter Church kept his groups small enough to score mostly tens while the rest of us were plinking out nines and occasional 8s. Peter fired a very nice 1182/1200 to win the match, with Ken Nelson taking 2nd over all and 1st Canadian with an 1156.

Rob Nabower, normally shooting F-class in Long Range matches, came out for his first Sm bore match, and shooting from a sling scored a very reasonable 1064. I know that I didn't score that high in my first metric match.
  Results:  Click Here

Keeping the Data book

Do you keep a Record Book (Data book) when shooting matches?  I mean do really keep it?    I mean do you really keep it forever?

                Pvt. Evenson, USMC,  Plt. 142, A Co., 1st Bn,
             Rifle Qualification Day, Boot Camp,  July 16th, 1964.
           1st Relay, Target 78, Foxtrot range, Camp Mathews, Calif.
  U.S. Rifle M-14, S/N #618040   Zeros are 28 clicks elevation, 1 click right
                       Qualification Score:   232/250 Expert
Keeping your record book forever--- is that excessive compulsive behavior --or what?

AZ Palma Championships -- Dec 3-5 2010

Click to enlarge then Ctrl. + to zoom in

Results --- 3 days and final:
Winners   Day 1 Nancy Tompkins   450-33
               Day 2 Nancy tompkins     450-30  Wow!
               Day 3 Peter Church         450-24
Note:  Day 2 Larry Miller (Wisc.) 2nd overall with 449-16

Pictures by Rick Curtis -- Click Here
          More from Rick -  Click here     (albums are on Facebook)

As many of you know Nancy Tompkins is our new AZ Palma Champion. Her unprecedented back to back 450's on days 1 and 2 and with a 446 on Day 3 bested all comers. Californian Tom Whitacker took the second spot with a 1344. We had some spectacular weather with over five days of mostly windless conditions.

 

 This is from 900 yds.  ( F-class)
  I  (Hawkeye) was pulling the target.

Shooters News -- the Week ahead -- Dec 4th

Shooters News for the MN area --  The Week Ahead  Dec 4th

MN RIFLE & REVOLVER ASSOC.

WINTER 2010 MEMBERSHIP &

BOARD MEETING AGENDA

Meeting Date: December 4, 2010, Board 10:00 AM, Membership Noon

Meeting Location: Gander Mountain located at 14640 W. Freeway Dr., Forest Lake, MN, 55025, phone (651) 464-0707

All members are welcome to attend the Board Meeting!

Notice and Agenda -- Click here 

Winter High Power League At MRC
Minneapolis rifle club has posted their schedule for the winter High Power league.  These matches are shot all at 300 meters from the MRC heated shooting house on electronic targets.  Shots fired are shown on a computer monitor next to each firing position.  This is a really neat system to shoot on and you don't have to get cold or pull targets.

 From George Minerich

Hi Guys please find below the schedule for the MRC Saturday NRA National Match / F-Class League.   The schedule was tough to set up due to holidays and the 300M State Championships on April 2&3.  We will shoot the NRA National Match Course, 10 offhand, 10 Rapid Sitting, 10 Rapid Prone and 20 Slow Fire Prone with sighters at each position.  F-Class will shoot 50 rounds prone plus sighters.  If you want EIC practice you get no sighters.   All targets scoring is modified for the electronic targets at 300 meters and the target on the computer monitor will look like the SR, SR-3 or MR.  For F-Class shooters we will let you shoot the International target - 50 rounds plus sighters (challenge wise, it's very similar to the F-Class target). 

The league fee is a flat fee of $80.00.  The fee pays for heat electronic target maintenance and a small range use fee.  The $80.00 fee is due at the first match and is nonrefundable.  Please note the fee is set up this way to reserve the range and to be sure there is participation since I am donating 8 Saturdays.       You can pre-register by contacting me -- see below.

   Matches start at 10:00am, but be there by 9:30am for preparation.   We should be done about noon.

   Please contact George Minerich if you have any questions at (320) 968-6898 or minerich@clearwire.net

Click here for Schedule:          First match is Dec 18th

Out of Town Match - Nov 27 2010

500yd Prone Match -- Rio Salado, Mesa AZ

Had a great day last Saturday with friends at the 500 yd prone match at Rio Salado. Things went well and I dropped only one pt in the first two matches. Then front sight came loose in the 2nd string of the last match and I shot a 7 and two 9's for a 594-31x and a 5th place over all. ARRRRGH! Thought it was my day. Still---had lots of fun. the 6mm BR that Randy Gegory made for me is just drilling Xs when I do my part.

Slide show of this match -- Click here

2011 High Power Schedule for the MN Area

Capt Bob has Published the 2011 Highpower Schedule.  Dec 6th revision.

Click Here to View or down load

 From Capt. Bob -- who must be in his "blue" period and I couldn't change the color

This is going to match directors or potential directors and some interested club officers. You are EL-FREEBO to share it with others as you see fit.

A few points to note.

1.  I was unaware until fairly recently that ERSC was going to be in a position to run any matches. Thus I have offered them the opportunity to host the NRA regional on Aug. 20-21 rather than at North Star since I'll be unavailable to run it then.

2. North Star has hosted the MRP team championship for the last 3-4 years in mid Sept.  This year North Star will host the SR championship that weekend of Sept. 17-18. Yeah I know that's late in the season so you find a better place to put it!  And besides, it's nice to spread them out. 

3.  I have offered ERSC a few dates that they can pick from to host the MRP/F class team event. 

4. North Star will work with ERSC to find another date or 2 where we may swap for a regular old approved match of some kind.

5. Regional applications MUST be in to NRA by the end of Nov. thus it would behoove ERSC to proceed with all vigor if they intend to run a NRA regional in Aug. of 2011.

6. Uhhhhhhhhhh...... I forgot point 6........oh well it must not have been that important.

7.  And that's all I have to say about this.

8.  See attached schedule and advise me ASAP of any errors in dates & locations.  I'll update contacts once we are sure the rest of it is correct.

CB

 Reply From Scott Olson of ERSC

ERSC will be honored to host the regional on Aug 20,21.  We will look at the calendar for the team mrp match dates.  We were excited to have the SR championship also, but we are fine with North Star having it.  ERSC is planning on having several approved mrp matches over the summer also.  More to follow when I get back to office.

Scott

GARAND MATCH
Also From: Capt. Bob  (I think that his computer is stuck on blue)

OK guys, am I nuts or what? I have NOT been drinking or smoking anything! 

 As we all know Garand matches are very popular.  Mid Range Prone is coming on but.............

to the best of my knowledge there has never been a MRP match limited to Garand's only. Sooooooooooo I'm thinking Memorial Day weekend Saturday for this.  Two divisions 1. Rack grade with the usual CMP guidelines. 2. Match grade.  30-06 or 308 in either. If there is enough demand we could go to a 3rd division with M1A's. Shoot 20 each at 3, 5 & 600 then eat! Entry fee $15.00 includes lunch and a small award schedule or some cheap medals!

Capt. Bob 


Rules:

I recently had a situation at the Rio Match where we were scoring in the pits (two relays) and the puller/scorer lost track of a competitors scores and hard feelings followed. So-- I  e-mailed the rules expert.  

to Capt Bob

  You have a good knowledge of the rules

  Is there a rule that covers the situation where a scorer doesn't pay attention and misses scoring a shot, and then tells the competitor at the end of  a slow fire string that the competitor needs to fire more shots when the competitor has already fired the 20 record shots?  
  Would the competitor have to fire the additional shots if he had kept a score book  and had 20 record shots recorded, or does the competitor have no recourse if he told the scorer to not call out the shot # and value?   
  Are here Any rules to govern this problem (less shots recorded than fired) when scoring is done in the pits as with only 2 relays?  Who wins this challenge if the shooter on the line kept a score book and claims that 20 record shots were fired?  
Jim E

From Capt .Bob        

I believe this is one of those areas that needs further clarification from the HP committee.

Rule 14.3.1 (c) says that if the shooter requests of the scorekeeper that his shots not be called out as he fires then he forfeits the right to challenge the recorded score see rule 16.1.  (Remember this !)

  When reading 16.1 there is nothing that addresses this specific scenario.  At least not that I can see.  I believe it has been a traditional requirement to fire as many shots as needed to fill out the score card.  In other words if you fired 2 sighters and 20 for record and have 22 empties; but the scorekeeper says you have 4 more shots, then you must shoot 4 more or take 4 misses. This would apply at any time but be very unlikely to happen if the shooter asked for each shot to be called out.   And yes I know many of us are deaf and can't hear those calls but my opinion is that the shooter should ask the scorekeeper to sit close enough to hear the calls or ask the scorer to show the card each time he writes in a value.  PITA but it avoids mistakes.
   I see no other way to proceed other than the above if there is disagreement in the # of shots fired. After it's over you should proceed to the stat office and DEMAND you NEVER be squadded with that idiot again! I have heard it said that if the shooter is keeping a score book and the above happens it's legal to copy shot values out of the shooters score book if there is an error.  I can't find this anywhere in the rule book and I have read every word of it more than once.  Perhaps a local interpretation by a referee at Perry or something.

    As far as 2 relays and keeping score in the pits I see nothing in the rule book either way saying we can even do this.  I doubt it would be allowed at a registered match, that is only 2 relays with no dedicated scorekeeper. One can probably avoid lots of arguments on a 2 relay match if the program clearly says scores will be kept in the pits and those scores are final and official. Even if they are wrong! Or have the rang officer make an announcement prior to fire of this policy.

   In my humble opinion a 2 relay match is a fun/practice event so who cares if there is an error.  But that's just me!

Sorry I couldn't have a more definitive answer but I just don't see it anywhere.

--Bob

Remember there is a Highpower OTC  Match at MRC  on Dec 18th

That's all folks
Hawkeye

Out of town match -- Nov 27th

500yd Prone Match -- Rio Salado, Mesa AZ

Had a great day yesterday with friends at the 500 yd prone match at Rio Salado. Things went well and I dropped only one pt in the first two matches. Then front sight came loose in the 2nd string of the last match and I shot a 7 and two 9's for a 5th place over all. ARRRRGH! Thought it was my day. Still---had lots of fun.

Out of Town match -- AZ Long Range Champs

AZ Long Range Championships at Ben Avery

Photo by Rick Curtis

I was a Rio Salado shooting an 80 OTC match with the Service rifle, but for those long rangers looking in to this blog, here is a link to Pictures of these LR champs taken by Rick Curtis who is in 2nd place after the first day of competition. 

Click for -- Photos by Rick Curtis

 from Rick Curtis

Day 1 of the Az State Long Range Championships is complete. Eddie Newman is in first place going into tomorrow's anysight match with a 594. I'm in second down three to Eddie. I took a lot of pictures today and hope to have them up in an album later tonight. But first it's time to eat dinner and then reload

Day 2- It was cold and windy today. The match was called due to rain so we only shot two stages today. In the end I came out on top by a point over Eddie Newman and Phil Hayes. Phil produced a brilliant 199 in one of the windiest relays today!

Old Eyes and Iron Sights -- more techniques to see better

Old Eyes and Iron sights Series --  Part 3
Ben Avery Small bore match -- Nov 14
 This was my first Small bore match after arriving back in Az for the winter shooting season.  I had hoped to score about 1580 which would be about 11 pts above my average for these 1600 pt matches (using iron sights).


100yds  198-10x 
Wolf  ammo $4.50/box

     I have changed the way I set-up the sights since I had left AZ in May and was looking forward to seeing if this years improved MN summer scores would continue into the fall matches in AZ.
   As I posted last spring, I had been having a lot of trouble getting a good sight picture, and good sight alignment now for some years as my eyes have gotten older (68 in Dec).  Discussions on this problem with German Salazar, and Mike Toliver convinced me that opening the rear sight aperture, for more light was exactly the wrong thing to do. I had been using a rear aperture setting of 1.6mm to 1.9mm in order (I thought) to see better.  The guys convinced me to "turn down" the rear aperture till I could just barely see through it and then pretty much forget about the rear ap, while concentrating on the Front aperture, and getting the shot off as quickly as possible.  German S. says that if the Rear Ap is small enough it will be almost impossible to missalign the sights, as your eye must be on the proper axis to even see through the sight. Well, I'm here to tell you that this works for me and my scores have gone up about 10 pts since changing my method.
  Some other things have also come into play.   I have determined that the proper "sight radius" is also very important for old eyes like mine to be able to see the front sight and bullseye as sharp and clear as possible. I believe that when using a .3 Diopter in the front sight, a sight radius of 32 inches is required to get the your eye into the proper "focal length" for that diopter, and to give you a "exit pupil" (image size) of the maximum size that your eye can use. 
  So, to make a long story short---I recommend to older shooters, who are having problems seeing the target, and the front sight clearly to: 

1.  Mount the rear sight or adjust your butt plate so that your eye is very near the rear sight-- taking in the need for a small amt of separation needed due to recoil. 
2.  Use a very small Rear Aperture   .7 to 1.0
3.  Use a .3 diopter in the Front sight  (none in the rear sight)
4.  Set up your sight radius to be about 32 inches
5.  Use a 30mm front sight (such as the "Right-Sight" sold by Wayne Forshee ( or any other). This large front sight tube will then just fit properly into view through the rear aperture set at .9mm
6.  Adjust the front aperture to approximately 4.2mm to fit properly around the bull
7.  Get the shot off quickly -- within 3 sec. -- before the eyes go dim. This requires some creative visulation and anticipation of sight picture before the looking through the sights so you know what you are looking for when you do get on the gun. This also requires you to take up the slack on a two-stage trigger as soon as you start to look through the sights so there is no hesitation in breaking the shot when you "see a 10".

All of this is working for me. My scores have gone up 10 pts over the summer using these techniques. If it works for my old eyes -- It might work for you.

So what was the result---- I shot a 1581--  Success!  Maybe a little benevolent scoring by Ken Nelson helped a bit.  OBTW,  Ken fired a 200-19x on the last target (50yd) to win the "Rick Curtis, no sighters, challenge match".  That's right--200-19x with no sighters!  Who says Canuks can't shoot?

Keep em in the middle
Hawkeye

2010 ISSF World Cup Sm bore -- American shooters take medals

USA's Matt Emmons takes gold medal in 50m 3pos. finals.  See video Click Here
This video is worth watching. Note the positions, and techniques used by the world champ.

USA's Jamie Beyerle takes bronze in Women's 3P  click here for video
Fort Benning, Ga World Cup finals ---  Click Here

I am always happy when I can shoot a 10 offhand and these folks are worrying about shooting 10.8's--amazing.  Ck their offhand positions---feet are spread wide apart with toes pointed in. It's quite a bit different than what I was taught years ago.  Well, It must work as they shoot way better than I do.

300 meter Match cancelled

The 300 Meter Match scheduled for tomorrow, Nov. 14, is hereby cancelled. The weather has created too many problems and potentially dangerous situations to have people out on the road and probably getting stuck at the range.
The range roads will not be plowed in time for the match and at the moment the conditions of those roads is quite nasty. George was at the smallbore range this morning and got stuck to the point of needing a contractor’s Caterpillar to make a trail. He reports that under the snow it is ice.

The match will not be postponed, it will be cancelled.
The next match will be Sunday Dec 12.
Sorry…..
Brian D. Shiffman

The Week Ahead -- Shooters News Nov 11th

 Don't  winterize those rifles yet!  
 

300 meter match --  Nov 14 at MRC 

From Brian Shiffman of Minneapolis Rifle Club

It is hard to believe, but the November 2010 MRC 300 meter match is this Sunday. It feels more like September. BUT, don't let your guard down. Winter IS coming, and by my faithful fuzzy caterpillar, it will be one we will remember for cold and snow.

The weekend weather is expected to be chilly with a high on Sunday about 40 but no snow!! And, or course, with our heated shooting house, life is good.

The match begins at 10AM which means you had better be there early to set up and take care of administrative details. And, you also want to leave time for chatting. The match is open to all who want to participate with a couple of exceptions regarding equipment: no muzzle brakes and only full metal jacket or identified match bullets. No expanding or fragmenting bullets.

We will have four classes available for shooters: 3-position, F-class, Prone and Offhand.

Fee for the match is $15

I hope to see you at the range.

Brian D. Shiffman         shiff004@umn.edu    
 

US Developement team competes in Australia

 Stacey Tamulinas  -Local shooter and  Adjutant for the US Development Team of the US Palma team has recently returned from Australia where he participated international matches with the team.   Stacey was kind enough to send us this report and a few pictures from that event. 

From Stacey :

 Do you come from the land down under?

October 3rd I left for Australia, part of an expeditionary team to learn as much as we could about the Belmont Ranges near Brisbane, AU.  This was in preparation for the World Championships in 2011.  We took part in 10 days of individual and team matches that tested the skills of the shooters and coaches.

  The individual matches consisted of the Natives Rifle Club 2 day match, the NRAA(National Rifle Association of Australia) 2-day President's Match and the 3-day Queen's Match.   The team competitions were the Provincial Team Match, the NRAA President's Team and the NRAA Mini Palma Team Match.

   The first 3 days in OZ were perfect weather, bright sunshine and warm mild breezes.  The next four days would be quite different and quite challenging.  First shooting day of practice and zero check day had intermittent light rain.  First day of the Native's, shooting at 300, 500 & 600 yards with intermittent heavy rain but all matches completed.  Took 2nd at 500 yrds.  The heaviest rain in OZ history taking place the next day.  800 and 900 yd canceled.  Tried to shoot 1000 yds after lunch.  Winds at 11 o'clock, 10-15 mph with gusts to 20.  The first two relays made it through when conditions turned ugly.  See attached photos.  Without being able to see the number boards most people gave up.  Norm Anderson was last up and toughed- it- out.

   The first day of the President's we went to 300 yrds.  More heavy rain.  Parking areas are turning into bogs.  We were told to report to 1000 yds to fire two strings.  See attached photo.  Fortunately, the first day of the President's was canceled.  Spent the afternoon drying equipment and taking care of export forms.  Weather conditions improved greatly for the second day of the President's as did the scores.  American, Trudie Fay, came in 3rd for the President's Aggregate  All of the scores for the individual or team matches can be seen at  http://www.nraa.com.au/results/data/natl/2010/results.php 

   The Queen's Matches had much nicer conditions but the wind still was not that cooperative.  Noma Mayo was in 5th in the Aggregate after the second day.  The next morning I looked at the weather forecast for the last day, 35 km/hr.  Bryan Litz had lost 8 points and down in 60th place.  His comment:  Bring it!   People were getting blown off the target and scores were falling quickly.  Bryan shot a 48.5V at 900 and 46.2V at 1000.  Under the prevailing conditions, fantastic scores. Good enough to be the first American ever to win the Queen's prize.  (see attached photo)  The Aussies were impressed enough to name a hamburger after him  (see attached photo) the next day.  Sales were brisk.

Our efforts in the team matches were mostly successful.  The Blue and Red and US teams placed first and second in the Chairman's Team Challenge.(see attached photo).  We also won the big Mini Palma Match against some very competitive teams from Australia and New Zealand.  The Australians  were mostly supportive and congratulated us.  A few were overheard saying some of their best shooters were competing in the Commonwealth Games in India.  Hmmmm.  I'll be watching next year when a couple of Gallaghers and Reeve show up.

Things to consider before you travel to OZ with your firearm.  You will need to obtain a licence and a permit to possess a firearm.  If you do not have these when you arrive, you will not be taking your rifle with you.  Also, each state requires their own license and permit.   Therefore, you will need additional permits even if you are only changing planes in another AU state.  After you arrive, you will need to file paperwork to take your rifle back home with you.  The Australians, it seems have taken the inconvenience of traveling with a firearm to a whole new level.  My friends in OZ assure me that US Customs, TSA and Homeland  .Security have made bringing a rifle to the US, equally as difficult.  Fair enough!

Other interesting (strange) things to know about shooting in OZ.  Mechanical wind reading devices will be confiscated if used on the Belmont Ranges. They have lots of range flags and a wind sock instead.  The Australians can only use Sierra 2155 and 2156 155 gn bullets or 2 styles of OZ home grown bullets.  If they are found using anything else (eg Berger Fullbore) they will be banned from competition for a year. Only one powder can be used, locally made Varget.  Foreign competitors are exempt from the ammunition restrictions.

Firing points are perfectly groomed, smooth and level.  They will sometimes mow the lines just before they are used.  They look great but lots of lawn clippings floating around.  Your firing point is to the left of the marker.  Hey, they drive on the wrong side of the road too.  Bolts must be removed at all times except when you bring your rifle to the firing line.  This is fine for making everything safe, not so good for keeping things (lawn clippings) out of your receiver.

Being a fan of the AU band, Men at Work, I had  long wondered about Vegemite Sandwiches.  While visiting a small zoo in Brisbane, I asked the guy behind the lunch counter about the stuff.  After we had received our order, he was kind enough to deliver one to our table at no charge.  It would be best described as a salty yeast paste on white Wonder Bread.  Interesting, but I wouldn't pay for one.

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to OZ  I made several friends and it truly was an adventure.  The National Team coaches and shooters were great to shoot with. I'm sure the Belmont Ranges will offer more challenges next year.  The National Development Team will be condensed to The Palma Team and we will be ready.

 Best regards,

Stacey Tamulinas

                          Click Here for a few pictures from these matches

 

 Thanks Stacey for that Report and the pictures, but next time take more pictures.   
  

 Winter Shooting Clinic  --  Feb 5th

 From Capt. Bob Peasley

Nov. 4, 10

Greetings Minn. HP shooters:

The North Star Rifle Club winter meeting will most likely be at Gander Mt. Lakeville on Sat. Feb. 5 at 1300 hrs.  I am planning on another clinic open to all clubs at 1000 hrs.  Other clubs & non members are invited to attend this clinic. This years very boring but very important topic will be MATCH OPERATIONS.  I'll try to cover everything you need to know about being the BIG CHIEF IN CHARGE.  Stuff like NRA rules (big subject) NRA programs, courses of fire, range preparation, squadding, types of targets, awards, results bulletins AND more!  As always this will be an open event with questions from you and hopefully answers from me.  All the clubs are needing more BIG CHIEFS IN CHARGE because the current chiefs are all aging and it's time to pass on some wisdom & knowledge to the next generation. Also as always North Star will provide a Pizza lunch about 1145 as we wrap up the discussion.  A donation of 2 bucks a slice will be requested. Feel EL-FREEBO to print this and post it at your local club house or out house.

 Now............... on to deer season!

 HOLDHARD,

 Capt. Bob   

History Lesson (s)-- a little extra for your winter reading list

  I like to read history and get a better perspective of why things are the way they are and how they got that way.  
 

From our resident Serbian shooter  -- Elliot Zunich, who visited "the old country" this fall.

"a shory History of Kosovo"----An interesting and lengthy read from Colorado State. 

 http://lamar.colostate.edu/~grjan/kosovohistory.html   

In Reply from: Erick Obermeier

Thanks, Elliot. I'll definitely have to read this more closely when I have time (in about 18 years). At a very brief glance, it looks reminiscent of a lot of what I have seen Dr. Srdja Trifkovic write in Chronicles magazine over the last decade and a half. Unfortunately, some of his earlier, prophetic articles don't seem to be readily accessible on-line any more, but the following are a sampling of pieces from the last few years:  http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/2007/05/08/ kosovo-blowback-reaches-america/  http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/2008/02/17/ kosovo-a-new-day-of-infamy-for-a-new-century/  http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/2010/10/05 /serbia-humiliated/ Of course, he is also the author of the following: http://www.amazon.com/Sword-Prophet-History-Theology-Impact/dp/1928653111/ He and his colleague, Dr. Thomas Fleming (the editor of Chronicles), were contributors to Kosovo: The Score, published by the Lord Byron Foundation for Balkan Studies and The American Council for Kosovo: http://www.balkanstudies.org/sites/default/files/newsletter/Kosovo%20The%20Score%201999%202009.pdf Dr. Fleming has also published a brief English-language history of Montenegro:\ http://www.amazon.com/Montenegro-Divided-Land-Thomas-Fleming/dp/ 0961936495/   I have met them both through educational functions of The Rockford Institute, but can't claim any closer relationship than that.  Eric

 
And:

Now, here I have one for you.  -------The best and most interestingly written history of  Afghanistan that I have read.  The British fought 2 wars there and the Russians fought one.  Now we are fighting the 4th Anglo-Afghan war and I'm hoping that the result will not be the same as the last 3.

 Here is a link to the Book "In Afghanistan" by David Loyn that I recommend.  Lots of History (no politics)-- its a very interesting period of history of that northern India, Kyber Pass, Afghanistan area before and after our own civil war to present. The British made their first expeditions through Kyber pass in the early 1800s to protect their Indian Empire from the Russians and Iranians (Persians).

Click here for link  to book.    

  extra:  The Battle for Kabul and the Retreat to Gandamak  The 1st Anglo-Afghan war

That's all folks

If you have any shooting news (or rumors and gossip), please send it in to share with all of us.

Hawkeye

Since 1775 It's been that way.

Happy Marine Corp Birthday to all Marines  -- Nov. 10th
November 10th  is the 235th birthday of the United States Marine Corp. 

Marines -- Click here  or  Click Here    or   Here

Just remember that if you absolutely, positively, must have something something destroyed overnight --- call the US Marines.  They are very good at romping, stomping, death and distruction.

"Some people go to bed at night wondering if they have made a difference in this world. The Marines don't have that problem."    Ronald Reagan

"If I die in a combat zone, box me up and send me home, pin my medals upon my chest, and tell my mother I did my best"  unknown Marine
Semper Fi   --  Hawkeye

300 meter match this weekend

Don't  winterize those rifles yet! --  Nov 14 at MRC
From Brian Shiffman of Minneapolis Rifle Club
It is hard to believe, but the November 2010 MRC 300 meter match is this Sunday. It feels more like September. BUT, don’t let your guard down. Winter IS coming, and by my faithful fuzzy caterpillar, it will be one we will remember for cold and snow.
The weekend weather is expected to be chilly with a high on Sunday about 40 but no snow!! And, or course, with our heated shooting house, life is good.

The match begins at 10AM which means you had better be there early to set up and take care of administrative details. And, you also want to leave time for chatting. The match is open to all who want to participate with a couple of exceptions regarding equipment: no muzzle brakes and only full metal jacket or identified match bullets. No expanding or fragmenting bullets.

We will have four classes available for shooters: 3-position, F-class, Prone and Offhand.
Fee for the match is $15
I hope to see you at the range.
Brian D. Shiffman         shiff004@umn.edu

Gopher Rifle and Revolver Club board election -- Nov 16

Highpower shooters who are members of GRRC should plan on attending the next membership mtg at Kraus Hartig. Nov.16.  Board members will be elected, and it is important for us all to have Highpower representation on the Board.  While the governing group at GRRC has always been the most fair group of governing folks that I have seen in any of the rifle clubs I have belonged to for the last 20 years, it is important to have discipline representation to ensure that it stays that way.  We need to have a HP person on the board in order to secure and coordinate match dates and such.  See you there?

Shooters News -- The Week Ahead - Oct 12th

Shooters News for the MN area  -- Oct 11th 

The Week Ahead -

Unfortunately, guys and gals, I am forced to report that there are no rifle matches, that I know of, coming up this weekend. It looks like the Rifle Match season is actually finally over for the year with the exception for the monthly 300 meter matches at Mpls. Rifle Club.  Arrrg!!   Here it is a beautiful fall weekend coming up and no rifle matches go to.  There is (I'm told) a Practical Pistol match at GRRC for those who just can't, stand to think of spending a Saturday without pulling some triggers.   
 

Last Weekend 

300 meter match at Mpls Rifle Club

This in from Brian Shiffman:

"What a glorious day for a match.  Bright sky, little wind and comfortable temperature; just a great day. 

 So, what happened??  Without the weather we had to get creative with excuses for less than stellar performances.  For me, I had not shot such a low score since the second prone match I shot back in March.  I can't blame anything except me.  The last two 20 shot strings had shots all over from 6's to 10's.  Each of the 20 shot string average, as shown by the little + sign on the target screen, was dead center X, meaning that on average I had all X's.  Ha.

   I heard other complaints of poor shooting/scores with just mumbling and grumbling.

   The highlight for me was to watch young Eric Halzelton shoot offhand with his .223 bolt rifle.  The concentration in his eyes, his consistent position, good follow through and cool head was great to watch.  He's going to be one fine shooter..

   This was the first match in which there were NO 3-position shooters.  We had Prone, Offhand and F-Class shooters.  It was good to see Ali Reda and Robert Young at the 300 meter range, again.  One "New to me" shooter was Mike Anderson who had not shot a match for about 8 years.  Well, he must have been shooting somewhere.  He was shooting an AR-15 with stock battle sights in Prone class and ended with a 529.  As you look at his score you will notice that he shot a 172 followed by a 174 and finishing up with a 183.  He shoots Black Hills blue box ammo and the last group was fired with a heavier weight bullet, 77gr I believe, while the first two were with 60-something gr.  Heavier is better.

    Steve Morehead was shooting a new Remington rifle in .243 with a Barska scope.  It's a left hand model.  Up to this time he had been shooting a 30-96 hunting rifle that would shoot inconsistently once the barrel had about 10 shots through it.  Heat problems.  The new Remington has a heavier, target, barrel and held steady.

    Poor Robert Smith; for a guy that usually shoots 595+ his 582 was awful; but he still won F-Class.  Inconsistent ammo.  Second loading of the Lapua brass, same load that has produced in the upper 590s.  Any suggestions will be gratefully accepted.  One was offered by a fellow shooter was that the area was sprinkled with pixie dust to throw us all off.  (Note: the free pistol match held on Saturday also had exceptionally fine weather and the scores were down for all shooters.)

    The house was infested with box elder bugs.  The white walls were covered with them.  They came into the building sometime early last week; we did not have any for Workday or the following Sunday match.  I cannot remember so many of the things in the building.  One year it was the biting variety of lady bugs; this year it is box elder bugs.

    The full results of the October match can be found at http://www.edfpages.com/mgfc/results.php?match=10 .  If you click on any of the months at the top of the table you will see the results of prior club matches.  We did not have a club match in Feb or April because those days were given over to other match events.

   The next match will be November 14.  Hope to see you then."

 Brian D. Shiffman    shiff004@umn.edu   

 Service Rifle 
Offical Leg Match Results from the Sept. 25th GRRC Leg match

Official Results are now posted at the CMP web page

    Over all Results:  Click Here 

    Non Distinguished Results  --  Click Here 

The Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals went to Phill Klanderude, Dean Gilliette, and Larry Weidel in that order. 

The coveted Leg Points went to Phill Klanderude, Dean Gillette, Tim Thole, and Tim Boyle. As reported earlier, and worth mentioning again--- This 10 point Leg that Phill K. earned has put him over the top and he has now earned his Distinguished Rifleman's Badge.  Congratulations to Phill.       

Notes: 

Mark Havlik adds to the AR-15 Service Rifle discussion on the need for a hooded Rear sight:

From Mark: 

To add to your discussion on AR Service Rifle sights, I would agree a 
hooded aperture isn't a necessity. However, a hooded aperture does 
allow you the flexibility to change aperture sizes (.038, .042 or .
046") without an annoying POI change. For example, my rifle started 
life as a DPMS DCM model. It came with a flip type rear sight that I 
don't remember the sizes of, but one was small and the other smaller. 
The problem was flipping from one size to another would result in a 6 
moa POI change.
   As to front sights, I started with a .072" wide post. As my eyes have 
gotten older I started running into horizontal stringing. I've since 
switched to a narrower .052" Post and now I'm fighting vertical 
stringing. (LOL)
   Like you, I have my vision correction in my Knobloch shooting 
glasses. I increased my magnification this year from .5 to .75 as I 
was having trouble straining my eye to focus on the front sight." 
Mark Havlik 

Thanks Mark.   I'm not sure how one changes the aperture sizes in a hooded rear sight as I don't have one, but even without one, I can change my aperture size just by screwing out the threaded-in aperture and screwing in a different sized one.  I have a rear sight (1/2 min adjustment) made by Albert Turner who also makes some of the best leather Service Rifle slings.      

From Larry Weidel

 Is any one interested in some 30-40 Krags blank cartridges? 

Later,  Larry    weidell@aol.com 
That's All Folks

Hawkeye

I found a nugget -- German Salazar prone shooting style

Shooters News - The Week Ahead-- MN Area --Oct 7th

The Week Ahead for MN area Shooters   

300 meter

 I hope you all haven't put away the shooting equipment for the season yet.  There is a Rifle match in the Mpls. area this Sunday.

Mpls Rifle Club is holding their monthly 300 meter match on Sunday, Oct 10th, starting at 10am.   This will be both a prone match or a 3 position match -- Take your pick.  You can shoot either or both.  These matches are shot from the 300 meter house, which is climate controlled, and fired on electronic targets which show your hits on a computer screen next to your firing position.  This is really neat-- you get instant feed back on your wind calls and don't even have to pull targets for the other shooters.     
 
About the match from Brian Shiffman:

"Yep, it comes rolling around again.  The MRC Club 300 Meter Match for October will be this Sunday, the 10^th at the MRC 300 meter house.  Shooting begins at 10AM.  Fee is $15, including state taxes.

 This seems to be pretty early considering I just finished cleaning my rifle from the September match.

 I have to make a correction to the email that was sent out after the September match.  I mentioned that Mike Marzitelli was NOT shooting a Schmidt Rubin.   At that match, the rifles used by Mike and Tom were Schultz & Larsen.

 See you on Sunday."

 Brian D. Shiffman      shiff004@umn.edu

These 300 Meter matches continue monthly.   See Schedule:  Click here      

Small Bore

Subject: Draft 2011 MN Outdoor Smallbore Schedule  from George Minerich  MRRA Pres.

" Hi Guys:

 Please find attached the DRAFT 2011 Outdoor Smallbore schedule.  You are getting this since the majority of you represent clubs with smallbore programs.  Right now we are looking at 11 matches.  Please take a look at it and let me know if there any changes needed.  Chris if ERSC wants to run another match MRC can give up a prone date or we can squeeze something in.

 Kurt and Mark please forward it to your clubs and see if anyone has plans to run an NRA Authorized match next year.  Bob B. I included the State Championship bid dates for Hibbing – any other NRA authorized matches planned? 

 Please send me any info on other matches ASAP so I can add them to 2011 Schedule

Thanks!  George"

Click Here    for Draft 2011 outdoor Sm Bore Schedule   

Service Rifle

FYI--  Larry Weidel, Kurt Borlaug and I have had been having a short discussion about the worth of having a hooded rear sight on an AR-15 Service Rifle.  Many new shooters purchase this attachment, not knowing weather they need it or not, after seeing other shooters using one.  Larry W. and I don't use one and see no real need for a hooded rear sight as our hat bill shades the sight well enough.  Kurt has been using one but after some testing with a non hooded rear sight thinks he may be able to focus the front sight and target better without one.  None of us use a diopter lens in the rear sight--- ( even though I have a .675 diopter glasses prescription).

Larry uses a .042 dia rear aperture, for good light days, and a .048" on darker days, while I use a .046" all the time.  I have a .052" screw-in rear aperture, but I am too lazy to change it out.  I use a .042" width front sight blade which has been bent a little to the left for the last 15 years. .

If anyone has more to say on this subject---send it in. 
 
Long Range
Minn. area long range shooter, Stacey Tamulinas has traveled this week to Australia to participate in 10 days of competition with the US Development Team. He has promised us a rpt when back back from the trip. Thanks mate.
 

Starting next week, I am taking a short time off from blogging and newsletters to prepare for Fall migration. 

Thats All Folks

Hawkeye