Shooters News for the Minn Area - June 11, 2013

The Week ahead
 
Have a Service rifle?  This weekend is a great opportunity for you to get it out and have some fun.  GRRC is hosting the CMP Games for Military rifles on this coming Saturday, June 15th at Gopher rifle and Revolver Club's range just north of the Cities at Harris, Mn.  These matches (two per day) are designed to be Fun.  Yes, they'll keep score, but the point here is to get some rds down range with the service rifle and have some fun.  This is a perfect match for a newer shooter.  It all is shot from the 200 yd line on the generous SR target,  and the course of fire is easy.  First the shooters will fire 5 sighters from the prone position, followed by 10 shots for record prone, then 10 shots rapid fire prone, and finishing up with 10 shots from the standing position.  Each shooter needs to bring at least 35 rds plus extras for possible refires in prone rapid fire. 
  The 2nd match of the day is a repeat of the first.  The Sniper match will be shot on July 6 at those CMP games
            Click Here for Match program and entry info. 

Prone and 3P Small Bore Matches
Minneapolis Rifle Club will again be the site of tough shooting competition this upcoming weekend.  Saturday June 15,  the Position shooters will be fighting it out, shot for shot, in three 40 shot matches - shooting first from the Prone position, then Standing and finally from the Kneeling position. 
                       Click here for match program

On Sunday, June 16th Prone shooters will have their chance for some trigger time.  160 shots for Record on 8 targets makes up this days competition at MRC.   Prone specialists, some of whom were competing in the 1000 yd Long Range matches last Saturday at GRRC, will now be sweating it out trying to shoot 10 or an X on unforgiving Sm bore targets a 100 yds away. 
                          Click Here for Match program

All in all, it looks like a great weekend for the Minn rifleman. I'll be out to GRRC for the CMP match Sat. Morning and then on Sunday I think I'll take in a nice day of prone shooting at the MRC SB match.  

Last Weekend
It was a weekend for the skilled and/or the brave.  You have to be brave to launch some bullets at a target 1000yds away, and you have to be skilled enough to actually hit the middle of the target if you have any hope of winning a match at a competition such as Long Range Regional held last weekend at GRRC. 

 

Capt Bob and Bill Lair fire at Targets 5/8 mile away

  Thirty six brave and skilled shooters showed up at GRRC's Long Range Shooting Facility Saturday morning for the first three matches on the weekends program. They all knew that today had to be the day to do their best and get to the top of the leader board, as the Sunday weather forecast was for rain and thunderstorms, and it was a high probability the Regional Long Range Championships would be decided this day. 
  It was a great day -- that summer day we have all been waiting for --  Blue sky's,  sunshine,  and (whoops) a fishtailing wind from the SE gusting to from 0 to 12 mph (mostly when you weren't looking).  Dale Wickstrom and Elliot Zunich were down from Northwestern gun club.  Small Bore prone specialists Eric Hazleton, and Morgan Dietrich came to give the High Power shooters some lessons in belly shooting.  Palma shooters, Stacey T. , Bill Lair, Brian Mrnak and others would give everyone a good  run for the gold. 
   The F-class ranks were filled with top shooters such as past Champion Pat Scully,  Adam Schidla and, up and coming Junior shooter Tyson Brabec.   

 
  F-class drilling Xs

 






  In the Sling class all shooters would fire these matches using Iron sights only. 
Jim Soderstrom was ready to go in the first match and fired 12 Xs and 8 tens for the only 200 score - that's right, a clean target at 1000 yds.  Jay Johnson and Stacey Tamulinas were lagging behind by only a pt or two.  In F-class Pat Scully's 199-12 wins F-open and  R. Shultz wins FTR.
 In the Second match the conditions got a little more tricky -- a little more switchy -- and Erik Rhode continued his winning ways of two weeks ago up north in the 3 day OTC matches. Erik scored a 198 for the match win, buy only by out X-ing a hard charging Phil Klanderud.  In F-class it was another past champion, Ben Winget winning F open, and Scott Olson from the Elk River club getting a hard earned F-TR win
 Going into the deciding 3rd match of the day Phil Klanderude was on top of the leader board, down only 4 pts for the days shooting. Jay Johnson was in 2nd place just a few Xs back and also only 4pts down.  The last match would go to the shooter with the most patience to wait out the wind shifts.  Those who were too quick off the scope and on the trigger would be rewarded with dreaded 8s and fall by the way side in this competition.  Employing the patience of the typical Master Class Sm bore prone shooter, Morgan Dietrich, played the wind shifts like a fine violin, dropping only 3 pts while shooting half of the 20 shots in the tiny X ring.  Capt. Bob finally got in the groove and posted a fine 195 score for 3rd place behind Stacey who shot one pt better for 2nd, and a good comeback to his disaster in the 2nd match.  Third match win in F open goes to Pat Scully with Jon Clauson just behind, while Steve winzelman gets 1st place in FTR.
  In the end it was Erik (quiet man) Rhode who having won the 1st match, and shooting top 5 scores in the other matches who scored the highest final score and its Erik Rhode who is now the Regional Long Range Champion.
 Congratulations and the Gold Medal to Erik -- you are on the top of your game!  Morgan Dietrich, and Bill Lair  win the Silver and Bronze medals. 

Erik Rhode  -- Regional Long Range Champion

Complete results:  click to expand

 












 F-class Champions are Pat Scully taking gold in F-open with Ben Winget getting the silver medal.   The FTR long range champ is Scott Olson followed by Steve Winzelman\

Notes:
 New (Old) Team Trophy  - Found and Repaired 

From Erik Rhode:
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the team trophy!  This beauty will be awarded to a team down at the 

MN State HP Championships at North Star on June 29-30, apparently for the first time since 1936!  Picture should be attached.

   Ok, quick update. I brought the trophy in this morning to my local trophy shop - Dakota Awards in Rosemount. They are a small mom and pop type of shop. I have used them in the past and they do nice work with good prices.  

   They quoted me a price of $100 to build  and finish a base out of wood, make 4 plates, and engrave the 60 team names and years that we have record of. He said they could have it done in 2 weeks. He said the price could possibly be slightly higher than $100, as they have someone else build the base for them, but not much more.

Erik 

From: George Minerich, MRRA Pres. 
"Hi MRRA Board Members:
Look what I found. (the trophy)  It was hiding since 1935. It's latest hiding place was Bob Van Gene's basement.  Judging by the dust on it, it was there for a long time. Please read Erik's email
...

Just some thoughts on the recently-discovered state team trophy.

Obviously, this thing has been missing for a loooong time.  it's sort of cool the way it is with only the first 5 winners on it from the 30's, however, I do have the accompanying plaques that list the team champions for 60 more years that the match was fired.  Would the MRRA want to get the rest of the names added to it?  I don't know that they'd actually all fit(I'm thinking they wouldn't), but perhaps a pedestal with placards could be built or bought?  Any other ideas as to what to do with it?"

George

Two Weeks Out

June 22-23     1000pt OTC matches both days at MRC     Click here for match bulletin
June 29-30       NRA Champ matches w/Leg match           Click Here for match bulletin 

That's All Folk's
Hawkeye

Shooters News for the Minn Area - June 4 2013

The Week Ahead  
 
HighPower        
Long Range Weekend is finally here!   Yup, this weekend you get a chance to put a few shots on the 1000 yd targets at the Gopher Rifle and Revolver Club Long Range shooting facility near Harris, MN.
 On Saturday June 8th,
  starting at 0900, hopeful shooters from around the 5 state Region will use Iron sights to try and put 20 shots in the 10 ring in each of the 3 matches.

    All Matches allow unlimited sighters but shooters must be on target in 6 shots (with coaching allowed). If you have Zeros at 500 or 600 yds, this should not be a problem.  The last match of the day will be a 2 man Team match.  Sunday June 9, will see competitors switching over to Scope sights in the two 20 shot matches, again with unlimited sighters and then finish with the Any Sight Team match.

 F-Class shooters will be contesting the F-class title both days in the same matches. 
  Remember this is a Regional Championship, so there are nice medals to be awarded and bragging rights to be had about who really can hit the target from 5/8s of a mile with a rifle.                       Click Here  for Match Bulletin

 

Nice shot from 1000 yds with Iron sights !!!

                                                                                          
300 Meter  International
June 300 Meter Match at Minneapolis Rifle Club

 From Brian Shiffman:
        You certainly can’t tell by the weather but it is now June; feels like April.  We are now open for registration for the June match. 
  The June Minneapolis Rifle Club 300 meter match will be held on Sunday, June 9^th with two relays scheduled; the first goes off at 10 AM and the second at noon.   
  Register yourself at http://edfpages.com/mgfc/match.php.  Read the instructions.  Pay attention as you fill in the boxes and make selections from the drop down lists.  There is room for only 14 shooters per relay.  The box at the top of the list shows the number of shooters for each relay. 
  No expanding or fragmenting bullets.  Only match or full metal jacket bullets; no muzzle brakes but flash hiders are OK.  A-Max bullets are NOT allowed. They are fine for paper but have a jacket that will fragment and shred our targets when it hits. 
  Pick your shooting class: 3-Position, Prone (sling and iron sights), Offhand (iron sights), F-Open or F-TR.  If you use optical sights then you are in one of the two F classes, depending upon caliber and type of support used.  You can shoot F-TR class with a service rifle with a scope and a sling if you choose.  Shooting is governed by ISSF rules except we allow NRA shooting jackets.  As a club match, we have some liberty.  
       Fee is $20 for the 60 shot match; Electronic targets, so, NO PIT DUTY and the match runs quickly, 3 strings of 20 rounds in succession.  Once the command is given to start the match, each shooter is on their own to finish within the 1:35 minutes. 
  If you need to cancel you have to contact me so that I can use the magic pixie dust to delete your entry and make it available for someone else 
  If you make an error on your entry, contact me so I can correct it".

Brian D. Shiffman      shiff004@umn.edu  

Last Weekend  
NorthWestern Gun Club 3 Day OTC Highpower matches
From Capt. Bob  
 Jim:  

Two pictures from the weekend at NWGC.  They predicted 70% chance of rain Fri. & Sat. but nary a drop till the last relay was just finishing up at 500 yd.  39 deg. when we awoke Sun. & one needed 2 or 3 layers to stay warm till about 1030.

 Relay 1 squaded and ready to shoot at NWGC

Match results - Click to expand
 



So, What happened ?--- It was billed and expected to be a battle of the veterans, Omer Hamer and Kevin Bangen. Both of these long time competitors have earned many of state titles over the years and so one was expected to take the win. Friday's 80 shot match showed there was a couple new Big Dogs on the the block as it was up and comers, Dick VanValkenberg, and the new NorthStar Highpower Director - Erik Rhode who traded match wins all day and confounded the aspirations of the Favorites. Dick V. won the Sitting Rapid match and shot the match best score at the 500 yd line, dropping only 2 pts there.  It wasn't good enough though as Erik won the Standing match and scored the only 200 of the day in the 300 yd rapid match (backed up by 8 Xs) to post the wining score for the day and start out Saturdays match on top of the leader board.   How about the "Veterans" ?--- Omer and Kevin traded match 2nds all day and while down, were not out of it yet.  Kevin was just getting warmed up.
   Saturday matches started with Kevin Bangen  back to usuall form and winning the Sanding match with a nice 189.  Kevin then took a 2nd in the Sitting Rapid match dropping only one point, while Erik Rhode stayed on top by shooting the only clean score and backing that up with12 tie breaking Xs (as if he needed them).  Larry Weidell, always competitive with his service rifle wins the 300 rapid fire match. In the 500 yd match, it was only Bob Peasley that could match Erick Rhode great score of 197-8X. and Bob gets the match win on tie breakers.  So for  the day it was again Erik Rhode as the match winner with Kevin Bangen just back a couple pts.   Two days of matches and two victory's for Erick -- that's a good start.
   Sunday was the perfect day to settle the issue.  Weather was good -  Day was fair.  
Omer Hamer, who averaged 189 in the three days standing matches won this days Standing match with that score. Omer, a grand senior shooter has been winning these standing matches for many years and looks to keep it up for quite a few more. Omer came right back and shot clean 200 in the Sitting rapid match but Kevin did the same with a couple more Xs and wins that match.  In the last match of the weekend, it was Mark Rohmann whose never say Die attitude held the hardest - shooting a clean 200 to win that last match.  Kevin's' awesome 785 score was the day's highest total. 
  All in all it was a great weekend of shooting OTC matches at NorthWestern Gun Club.  
So -- Who won it all ??     Erik Rhode's consistent match scores of 782, 779, 778 for the 3 days of shooting gave him an solid 20 point lead over 2nd place Kevin Bangen and Erik is the weekend's Winner!  Good shooting Erik!


Regional Prone Championships (small bore) at MRC

It was to be two solid days of prone shooting on those tough outdoor small bore targets.  Each day prone shooters would shoot on 8 targets - 20 shots ea.  Three targets are shot at 50 yds and are fairly easy targets.  To be competitive you should clean these targets if you hope to be around on top at the end of the day.  The next 3 targets are shot at 100yds and are tough targets.  When you factor in the wind reading ability it takes to shoot a 10 or X at 100 yds with a small bore match rifle you can see why competitors face a tough task shooting a 200 in these matches.   The final two targets of the day are shot at 50 meters and are on even tougher (smaller 10 ring) targets and is usually considered the toughest match.  There is no give on small bore targets. "If your shot isn't perfect -- it isn't a ten" is the old saying, and why Sm Bore prone shooting is the way so many Long Range shooters get to be as good as they need to be to hit the black at 800 to 1000 yds.

    Saturday June 2  -- Iron sight day
The day dawned cool, crisp, sunny with a gusty cold North wind at the Mpls Rifle Club.  It would be day to glue your one eye ball to those wind flags while the other one lined up the shot though the sights,  because you would only get a half a sec. to see your shooting window  when the flags were lined up the way you wanted them to be and get off the shot----if you got that long.  Ok, it was a tough day, but the conditions were the same for every one. 

       It was a good turn out.  The line was filled and overflowing to a 2nd relay.   Long Range Palma specialists, Wyane Anderson, Randall Gregory, and Stacey Tamulinas were there to contest for medals with some of the states top Small Bore contenders, such as Morgan Dietrich, and the future Olympic stars from our hot shooting Junior Sm Bore teams.  Elmer Miller came in from Souix Falls,SD to fill in the Senior division. 

 Stacey and Eric fire the any sight match

  Morgan Dietrich and Junior Carmen F. both found a handle on the wind and cleaned  the first two targets -- the 50 yd match for 400 pts.    Wayne Anderson shot 33 of the 40 shots of the Dewar Match in the X-ring and dropped only one pt on the 100 yd target to win that match.  Emily Quinar, past NCAA shooter, wins the 100 yd match with a wind whipped 398 score.  She used every minute of the 20 minute time limit to somehow find the flags lined up to get off a well called shot.  In the 50 meter match,  Emily destroyed the competition, by timing every gust, and by putting all but 3 shots of 40 in that little 10 ring while the wind blew the rest of us all over the 8 ring.  That was some show of patience and wind reading ability by Emily.  The ability to see the condition and then quickly deliver a good shot is something I wish I was better at.  Emily Quinar now leads the pack by 9 points over Intermediate Junior and Long Range shooter, Eric Hazleton.  Those juniors must have better eyes than us old guys have. Do you think?
      Sunday June 3 --  Scope day (any sights)
Again it is cool with a strong wind whipping across the range with the flags reversing every few seconds.
Wayne Anderson starts off the day winning the 50 yd match with patience and good trigger control scoring a clean 400.  In the DeWar match there are no clean scores, Stacey T. and Morgan D. held for 399s losing only one pt, and Staceys high X count winning the tie.   When the conditions are tough, only the tough survive, and Wayne Anderson would not be denied in the 100 yd match -- Swirling wind or not.  Wayne adds another match win to his column with a 397 score.  The final match of the Weekend was won by Stacey Tamulinas with a 398-25x just nipping again Eric Hazleton by a couple Xs. The day's best score was a 1592-112x fired by Stacey Tamulinas, with Wayne Anderson just two Xs back.  
    The Regional Gold Medal goes to Wayne Anderson, with Junior Eric Hazleton getting the Silver, and  Emily Quinar earning the Bronze.  

 Service Rifle Clinic at Post 435 - June 1

    From: Mark Havlik

"Jim,

      You mentioned you'd be interested in a report from the Post 435 annual SR clinic.

We had 22 shooters show up for this years Service Rifle Clinic. After some instruction on positions and proper sling use we ran 3 relays through the 50 shot National Match Course of fire. We had to call a short cease fire mid afternoon when Mother Nature decided to literally rain on our parade. 

     Judging from the positive comments i received at the end of the day I'd say it was a job well done. We signed up a couple new members and set the hook on a few others.

Here  is a link to the photo slideshow.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na93EFiezuI

Enjoy. "  Mark  Havilk 
   

Two Weeks Out
June 15th -  CMP Service Rifle games at GRRC   
June 22,23 -  OTC  matches at MRC (and Barbeque!!!)    Click Here for match program

That's All Folks !
Hawkeye

Shooters News for Mn area shooters - May 29, 2013

The Week Ahead

Atkinson -  Leubke Invitational OTC Matches - May 31-June 2
With the weather improving, and the forecast for partly sunny skys and mild temperatures over the next weekend, traveling shooters will be heading north to Northwestern Gun Club on the shores of beautiful Hunter Lake. The second of the two weekend  Over the Course Series continues with 3 great days of OTC matches just a little Northwest of Duluth, at Northwestern Gun Club's beautiful 500 yd rifle range.

Each day, Friday through Sunday May 31- June 2, the match will consist of an 80 shot National Match Course competition featuring matches from the Standing posititon, Sitting and Prone Rapid Fire, and a final 20 shot match shot from the 500 yd line.  Matches at Northwestern Gun Club always are followed by a little social get together to discuss the days shooting and to wash the dust out of one's throat with a soda pop or some such beverage.  Many shooters camp at the range where 3 indoor facilities are availible to roll out some bedding to stay stay warm and dry.  All in all, matches at Northwestern the best of the best.  Don't miss the chance to shoot OTC three days in a row and nail those positions down solid.         Click Here for match bulletin

Service Rifle Clinic - June 1
On June 1st,  Post 435 American Legion Gun Club is putting on their annual Service Rifle Clinic at their range just south of the cities near Elco, MN.  Mark Havlik is the match director and has written several articles on Service Rifle shooting  (Click Here) and I know that the beginner Service Rifle shooter will benefit from techniques learned at Mark's clinic.      Click Here  for match bulletin. Maybe Mark will send in some pictures or one of his great videos of this clinic? Mark?

Small Bore Prone matches - June 1-2
Prone specialists, and Small Bore competitors of all kinds will be heading to the Minneapolis Rifle Club for this weekends Regional Small Bore Outdoor Prone championships. These Championship matches to be held on June 1-2, at MRC's very nice 22 position  SB range, will feature top Highpower prone shooters competing head with Nationally competitive Small Bore specialists with all shooters firing 20 shots on 8 targets per day.  Targets are fired at distances of 50 yds, 50 meters, and 100 yds.  With decent weather forecast, I expect a full line of Junior and adult shooters trying their best to win one of those coveted Regional Medals.  I'll be there hoping to hold my own in the always tough Expert class. 

 





June 2 - Iowa Service Rifle 300 yd St. Champ. -
River City Gun Club in Mason City, Iowa will be hosing a Service Rifle Champ match.  This match is shot from the 200yd and 300 yd lines.     Click Here for match bulletin


Last Weekend

HighPower matches at NorthStar Rifle Club
From: NorthStar Highpower Chairman  Erik Rhode   
"Hi Jim
We defied the weather forecast and ended up with a couple of days of decent shooting
23 shooters made the trip to scenic Red Wing, MN for the first OTC match of the 2013 season that didn't get cancelled due to weather.  Weather was not ideal, but it still beat the heck two days at work.  Saturday proved to be especially challenging with a fast-switching fishtail gusting to 20mph.  Offhand proved difficult for all and there were many shots high and low due to strong gusts. The condition at 600 confounded all shooters except for one - Leo Huhta rose up from the Expert class to make all of the Masters and High Masters look silly with his 200-9x.  A great 600 yard score in any condition, and downright amazing in this one.  Nice Shooting, Leo - can't imagine that Expert card will last too much longer!  Sunday was a little better, - still had switchy winds, but much more manageable. The wind, mixed with 55º temps kept us all nice and cool, and occasional rain showers insured that we were well hydrated.  We had a few new shooters and it was a nice, even mix between the classes.  We even had a visiting dignitary from a far-away land - Kent Finlay made the drive up all of the way from Missouri.  At the end of the weekend, it was hard-holding Kevin Bangen who emerged with the match win.  Yours truly was 8 points off of Kevin's lead for 1st High Master honors.  Jim Soderstrom made 1st Master with two solid days of shooting.  Tough Guy Tommy Torborg locked up the Expert class with a couple of first-in class wins along the way.
      Thanks to all who came down, and we hope to see you all back in a month for the MN State Championship matches -   Service Rifle, Match Rifle and 4-person Team on June 29-30.  Leg Match on Sunday for the SR guys, and we will also hold a concurrent Director's match with the same course of fire for the guys shooting the fancy guns.                             Best Regards",    Erik Rhode         
RedWing results -Click to expand

Two Weeks out   
June 8, 9 -   Long Range (1000yd) Regional championships at GRRC.  Includes Iron sight and Any sight matches for individuals and a team match each day.   Click Here for Match program
June 15  -  CMP Service Rifle Games at GRRC.   Click Here for match program  (I'm going to this one)                June 15 -  3 P metric Small Bore matches at MRC  click here for match program  

That's All folks!

Hawkeye

Shooters News for the Minn Area - May 23

The Week Ahead   

Last weekend was all about Prone shooting, with the Highpower wind clinic and Mid Range match at Elk River Sportsmans Club, and the Prone Small bore matches at the same rifle club.

 This weekend is a big chance for the "Over The Course" shooters to finally get in a good weekend of Highpower position shooting.   NorthStar Rifle Club is hosting their first 2 day OTC weekend of the year.  Both Sat and Sun the fun starts at 0900 hrs with the 20 shot standing match from the 200 yd line. Shooters will also fire Rapid fire

strings from the Sitting and Prone position, and finish up each day with a 20 shot prone match to be shot from the 600 yd line. NorthStar Rifle Club is a few miles north of the Cannon river on Hwy 61 so it's a short trip to shoot a good match.  
           Click Here for Match Program 

Don't forget the big  3 day OTC Weekend in Duluth at Northwestern Gun Club is just around the corner and this weekend's matches at Redwing are just the ticket to get you practiced up before heading North.  


Two Weeks Out - Plan ahead
Sm Bore
June 1-2.
Prone shooters who have a Small Bore match rifle can participate in Two days of tough prone shooting at the MN Sm Bore Outdoor Prone Regional.  Competitors will shoot eight 20 shots targets for a total of 160 shots for record each day (plus lots of sighters). This Regional Match will be held at the Mpls. Rifle Club June 1-2. 
        Click Here for Match program

HIghpower
May 31 -June 2
Head North to Northwestern Gun Club on the shores of beautiful Hunters Lake.  This could be your best shooting weekend of the year.  3 days of OTC competition at top notch rifle range will see competitors fire 4 matches a day for a total of 240 shots for record over the 3 day weekend.  If you can't shoot all three days, come up for one or two days.  Click Here for Match bulletin  

June 2 - Southern Mn shooters will have the oppertunity to contest their service rifle skills at the Iowa State Service Rifle Champ (300yd) at River City Rifle and Pistol Club, just a few miles North of Mason City, Iowa. Steve Hays is the match director.  Click Here for match bulletin.   


Notes:
From: Capt. Bob   
 "Hello shooters   

You may recall my lens testing reports of fall 2012.  This spring I had 1 more thing I wanted to try.  As we know your zeros may change significantly when you change from one lens to another, even if they are of the same magnification.  My #1 240 NMC Mid Range Prone rifle had a 5” bloop tube which I decided to remove to reduce the sight radius.  The front aperture would not open far enough to get a good sight picture with that long radius.  Upon doing a quick bore sight it looked like the sights were pretty close to the zero with the bloop tube or perhaps a “little” to the right but probably on paper.  Well, I was right! It was a “little” right as seen in the picture.  As you can see an 87 gr. Hornady HPBT at 3200 FPS will penetrate 1/8” soft steel reasonably well!  As you can also see there have been other “penetration” tests on this target frame over the last 35 years.  Once again I have done the testing for you.  
PAY ATTENTION!!"  Bob

That's All folks
Hawkeye

Shooters News For the MN Area - May 15, 2013

The Week Ahead   
Prone Shooters, and 3P shooters both have good rifle matches to participate in this coming weekend.

Highpower prone shooters have the opportunity to attend a Wind Reading Clinic Saturday, May 18th at the Elk River Sportsmans Club.  Aimed at the Mid Range, and Long Range Competitive Shooter, this clinic will have some top coaches giving pointers on  guaging the wind when trying to hit a target in 600 yd Mid range matches and beyond. In the Afternoon shooters can tryout their new skills in a two man Team match - 20 shots per shooter at 600 yds.  Click Here for Match program

The Sunday, May 19, match at Elk River Sportsman's Club will be an 80 shot (4 x 20) prone and F-class, and will all be shot from the 600 yd line.  Remember,  this Range has a nice soft grass 600 yd line, with good light and honest wind to read. Come out and put a few shots down range, the mid-range season has begun.

Small Bore
 The Small Bore calendar is also full this weekend with matches both days -  again at the Elk River Sportsman's Club's nice 20 position outdoor Small Bore facility.  Saturdays competition will see shooters contesting a  3P Metric match.   Click Here for Match Bulletin.
Prone shooters will have their day on Sunday, May19, when the competition is all belly matches, and shooters will fire 4 matches of 40 shots, in a 50 yd match, and a Dewar match in the morning with Iron sights, and then in the afternoon, It will be Any sights for a 50 meter match, and the always tough - 100 yd match.  Since I don't have enough ammo loaded for the High Power match, I'll probably head for the Small bore prone match Sunday and shoot some of that Lapua OSP ammo I tested in their Mesa, Az test tunnel this winter.  Click Here for match Bullein.

300 Meter
From Brian Shiffman:

"Thanks to George (and Susan) Minerich for running the match for me as I was out of town for the weekend.

There were a couple of new shooters in the match, Sean Humphreys in F-TR class and Will Lakey in Prone class.  Unfortunately, Will’s score is not shown in the web results page since he did not record his last series.  If it comes in I will add him to the results page.

The results can be seen at http://edfpages.com/mgfc/results.php?match=5

The next match is June 9.  Registration will be open late in May; as soon as I have the date when registrations will be accepted I will pass them along in another email. "

Brian D. Shiffman    shiff004@umn.edu

That's all folks

Shooters News for the Minn Area -- May 2

This Weekend  

 Highpower: 
 GRRC Highpower Weekend - May 4-5
Saturday May 4th, GRRC will host the annual Bob Hall Memorial 80 shot OTC match. Shooters will fire 20 shots Offhand and two strings of Rapid fire at 200 yds, 20 shots prone rapid fire at 300 yds, and finish with 20 shots prone slow fire at 600 yds.

  Click Here for match program

Sunday, May 5th,  the action will feature a 50 shot CMP "Excellence in Competition"Leg match for Service Rifles.  These "Leg" matches are the most important matches in a service rifle shooters career.  They are the only matches where you can earn the all important leg points you need to qualify for the Distinguished  Rifleman's badge -- the most coveted award in service rifle shooting.  Click here for match program

Mid Range prone matches at  RedWing-- NorthStar Rifle Club - May 4-5

From Capt Bob:    (Click Here for match program) 

 "Greetings belly shooters:  

 We finally accomplished our work day at North Star and the range is in excellent shape for the 2 day MRP this weekend.  There is one exception, that being the camp ground is not yet useable after the great flood of 2012.  It has been graded and seeded but not yet useable.  If you wish to tent there will be room on the 100 yard line or in that area.  

 For your review I have attached the program.  Note that both days we are shooting the 300, 500 & 600 yard MRP course with iron sights. Saturday is 20 shots each line & Sunday is 15 each line. Since this course is an aggregate you must shoot the same rifle at each yardline. After the MRP course each day there will be a 20 & 15 shot any sight match and you can shoot a different rifle in that match. You can shoot a 3rd rifle in the 45 shot agg. Sunday & a 4th rifle in the 15 shot any sight match Sunday.    

 Work is not yet complete on restoring targets 19 & 20 so we are limited to 18 targets with 9 for F class & 9 for sling shooters.  We are planning on having all 20 targets in operation by the end of June weather permitting. That can be adjusted either way if we have more of 1 than the other.  And contacting me ahead with your intentions would help solve any issues like that.  

 If you plan  to shoot please take a second & drop me a quick reply with name & F class or sling.  That will save some time come Sat. morning.  

 Unless it looks like a total rain out I'll be dragging the camper down early Fri. afternoon and may not have cell coverage on the range.  

 Bob"

Two Weeks Out
May 11th --CMP military rifle match at GRRC - click here for match program

May 12th - 300 meter International
From Brian Shiffman:

The May Minneapolis Rifle Club 300 meter match will be held on Sunday, May 12^th with two relays scheduled; the first goes off at 10 AM and the second at noon.  

Register yourself at http://edfpages.com/mgfc/match.php.  Read the instructions.  Fill in the boxes and make selections from the drop down lists.  There is room for only 14 shooters per relay.  The box at the top of the list shows the number of shooters for each relay.  

No expanding or fragmenting bullets.  Only match or full metal jacket bullets; no muzzle brakes but flash hiders are OK.  A-Max bullets are NOT allowed. They are fine for paper but have a jacket that will fragment and shred our targets when it hits.  

Pick your shooting class: 3-Position, Prone (sling and iron sights), Offhand (iron sights), F-Open or F-TR.  If you use optical sights then you are in one of the two F classes, depending upon caliber and type of support used.  You can shoot F-TR class with a service rifle with a scope and a sling if you choose.  Shooting is governed by ISSF rules except we allow NRA shooting jackets.  As a club match, we have some liberty.   

Fee is $20 for the 60 shot match; Electronic targets, so, NO PIT DUTY and the match runs quickly, 3 strings of 20 rounds in succession.  Once the command is given to start the match, each shooter is on their own to finish within the 1:35 minutes.

If you need to cancel - you have to contact me so that I can use the magic pixie dust to delete your entry and make it available for someone else.

If you make an error on your entry, contact me so I can correct it.

Brian D. Shiffman  shiff004@umn.edu

Notes:
Extra! Extra!
Rare color footage of LA Sheriff's Pistol Demo team -- 1936 Click Here
There is good stuff in this video all the way to the end when they do reloading. 

Enjoy!

That's All Folks!
Hawkeye