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

The Week Ahead for MN area shooters -- Sept 28

The Week Ahead - MN Area Shooters News - Sept 28

Last Weekend pretty much signaled the end of the Rifle Match season here in the Mn area.  However, there is a rumor out that the matches scheduled last weekend at Eau Rifle club were postponed due to range flooding and will now be held this coming weekend.  I can't confirm this is true, but, if this is the case, Saturday will be a Mid Range  prone match to be shot at 600 yds, and then on Sunday an 80 OTC will be held. I got this "word of mouth", so ck with someone in the know before driving over to Eau Claire.  Click Here for the match program and contact information for the Match Director. The forecast is for great weather and this would be your last chance to fire a Highpower rifle match this season.   

Last Weekend

The Golden Nuggets of life may come few and far between but when they do come, they make life really worth living.

  

 Friday,Sept 24 -- GRRC put on a shooting clinic for more than two dozen MN National Guard troops, facing future deployment to Afghanistan or Iraq.  Chief Warrant Officer (CW4) Roger Sorben, and S.Sgt Al Schneider brought their men in to hone their marksman ship skills prior to the upcoming deployment.  I had the pleasure, along with Kurt Borlaug (clinic director), Tom Torberg, Bill Lathi, Don Mastro, Mark Havlik, Erik Rhode, Dave Dexter (10 X Dex), and MSgt Matt Griffin (USAF shooting team), of coaching these young energetic Guards men.  They were all attentive to what was being taught. They seemed eager to learn, and were all very respectful of us older guys who were telling them what to do all day.  We are all lucky to have such fine young men and women serving in our armed forces.  It was a great day and I think a good time was had by all.  They would all come back the next day to compete in the Excellence in Competition match at GRRC - The Leg Match.
     Click Here -- for Slide show of Clinic Pictures.

Kurt Borlaug explains Sight Picture

 

Saturday Sept 25th

GRRC hosted a Excellence in Competition - Leg Match for service rifle shooters and and 42 non-distinguished shooters showed up to contest for Leg Points.  Thanks to the MN Nat Guard contingent, this proved to be the best turnout for a leg match MN has seen since sometime in the early '90s.  This many shooters meant that there would be four "Legs" up for grabs plus the 3 medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place overall.  There were also some already "Distinguished" shooters who showed up as they are eligible to win the medals.  I was one of those hoping to win a medal and, of course, I would be trying to best my friend and long time competitor, Larry Weidell whom who has been beating me fairly regularly lately, although I got him by 1 pt for a medal in the Elk River Leg match earlier this summer. I would have to be on my game if I was to have a chance in this match as I had not practiced Offhand or Rapid fire much this whole summer. 

 The day was going to be warm, sunny, with little wind and so there would be no excuses for bad shooting to fall back on.  I was up 1st relay for the standing match and proceeded to fire a couple 9s then a 7 on the third shot-- not going well right off the bat.  More 9s, an 8 and only one 10 followed and I scored only an 87 in that match -- 7 pts below my average. I came back with a 98 in the Sitting Rapid fire match, but was down 15 pts already off the 200 yd line, and I knew it was going to be tough to beat Larry or win a medal today as I headed for my turn in the pits.   Checking with the other guys on my relay, it sounded like Phil Klanderud was having a good day and might be among the leaders at the end.  Chief Sorben was also on my target and fired fairly good scores at the 200, and 300 , so he also was still in the running as we headed back to the 300yd line for our turn at that rapid fire match.   On the way back I passed Larry who said he had shot a 98 standing, then 95 sitting and so he was up 8 on me already.  My 300 rapid group went out at 5:00 and 9 more pts went down the drain.  The Varget powder I was using today was definitely shooting lower by about a min of angle than the RL-15 I had been using earlier in the year.  I had to go back to the pits at each yd line as there were only 2 on our target so again I passed Larry W.  on the road after he had shot his 600 slow fire.  He said he had left the door wide open for me as he had had a very bad 600 dropping 20 some pts there.  Like the old saying---- he had won it at the 200 yd line but then lost it at the 600yd line  -- maybe, I still had to shoot back there myself and 5pm shadows were now obscuring the #4 and #5 targets where I was shooting.  I really could not see the targets well and hardly could see the bullseye at all.  Day over? Well I would try a few shots but I had little confidence at that point.  I put 2 extra clicks of elevation on the gun for the Varget and tried to get a sight picture. The bullseye looked oblong from 8 to 2 o'clock so I waited till a big shadow to move a little and realized it wasn't going to get any better and fired for record.  To my amazement it came up an X -- I don't know how that happened, as those folks that were on the little end of the line will attest to: the bullseyes were barely visible against the dark background. I came off with a 187 - only a few pts below average and was very happy to have scored that well considering the really poor visibility. Over all I was down about 10 pts for the day from my usual average, but I had had a fun day, and that is what really counts.  Did I beat Larry Weidel and win a Medal  --  Nope.  That one seven I shot at the 600 put me 3 down from Larry and he won the bronze medal (Dang, beat me again!).  Some consolation-- I had beat 3 of the leg winners and most of the younger guys, coming in 5th over all of the 40 some shooters.  See -- 67 yrs old isn't too old to shoot service rifle and have fun at a leg match. 

   Phil Klanderud was the big winner.  He won the Gold Medal and the 10 Leg points he needed to finally earn his Distinguished Rifleman's Badge.  I was very happy for Phil as he shot well and deserved to finally win that Badge.  He had just missed, scoring 1st loser, in 5 other Leg matches.  He had hung in there, with a great attitude, and finally this was his day.  

Congratulations to Phil Klanderud -- Distinguished Rifleman

I don't have complete results as a score board was not kept and results were not forwarded to me yet.

(L to R)   Larry Widel (Bronze Medal), Phil Klanderud (Gold Medal + Gold Leg), SSgt Al Schneider (First Leather),Tim Boyle (Bronze Leg), CWO4 Roger Sorbin (Silver Medal), Dean Gillette (Silver Leg), Tim Thole (Bronze Leg) 

Other winners-- all the other shooters that took part in this match. 

Upcoming matches
300 meter matches continue at the Mpls Rifle Club once a month -- the next being Oct 10 th.
Olymbic small Bore continue at the Mpls Rifle Club once a month -- the next being Oct 16 -  Program click here

Slide shows of last weekends matches are posted on the Blog below

That's All folks 

Hawkeye 

Sept 25 Leg Match -- GRRC

Phil Klanderud earns Distinguished Riflemans Badge !!

L to R, Larry Widel (Bronze Medal), Phil Klanderud (Gold Medal + Gold Leg), Al Schneider (First Leather),  Tim Boyle (Silver Leg), Roger Sorbin (Silver Medal), Dean Gillette (Bronze Leg), Tim Thole (Bronze Leg)

Minn National Guard at GRRC Sept 2010

This Friday I had the pleasure of working with Members of the Minn National Guard as they attended a shooting clinc at GRRC.  These Guard members are deploying "Down Range" some time in the near future and they were honing their marksmanship skills today prior to participating in a EIC (Excellence in Compeititon) rifle match on Sat. Sept 25th.  We are all lucky to have such fine young men and women serving in our armed forces.  All were eager to learn everything we could pass on to them.  They listened to their coaches and then put that new knowledge to work while firing at 200 and 300yds.  The results showed up on the targets as plenty of 10s and Xs were shot. I know that they were appreciative of our efforts and of GRRC for hosting this event. 

Club vs Club Team championship -- Sept 18 at NorthStar rifle club

Elk River Sportmans Club - Sm Bore 1600 prone -- Sept 19

Steve Knutson takes the win. 

Rpt on this match  --  See Below

Shooters News -- The week Ahead Sept 21

The Week Ahead - Shooters news Sept. 22

This coming weekend pretty much signals the end of the Rifle Match season for the MN area.  There are Two local Service Rifle matches at GRRC to participate in, and a weekend of shooting in Eau Claire to pacify Mid Range Prone shooters and Match rifle shooters.

Friday, Sept 24, GRRC is hosting a marksmanship clinic for a couple few doz National Guard shooters, who are probably being deployed to Afghanistan in the near future.  As Sgt. Al Schneider says - "to help them reach out and touch some one" when they get down range. These shooters will then come back the next day for----

Sat. (Sept 25) for a warm-up practice in the morning and the "Big" Leg Match also being held at GRRC.  It's looking like there might be 4 to 5 "Legs" up for grabs at that match, the thought of which should draw Service Rifle shooters out of the woodwork from states around who are trying to pick up those easy leg points.  I'll sure be there on Sat., as it should be a great match to shoot before I put the AR15 away for a while.  Click Here  for Leg match program.  

Note from Match Director Kurt Boulaug:

  "Boys, I35E will be closed Friday night to Monday am this weekend for bridge repair in Hugo (exit #123). Please let people know this on your distribution/blog lists. I'm not sure if the northbound ramp in Hugo will be open to divert traffic to #61 or not. FOLLOW DETOURS!!!!

  The Hearst warm-up will be changed to the following;
1) Not a team match anymore. Individual practice. No charge for this.
2) 3 minute prep and 7 minutes offhand, followed by prep and sitting rapid-fire. No alibis or refires.

3) 3 minute prep and 7 minutes 600 slow-fire

4) 3 relays will be squadded at this practice and to the greatest extent possible will remain the same for the Leg Match.

 These changes are due to the large turnout expected and to avoid re-squadding after what would have been a two-man match. Also will save on 30 yard faces and the match director's nerves.

 Please send this out to lists, blogs,MRRA site and anyone else who may need to know."
Respectfully, Kurt Borlaug 

 Sunday, Sept 25 --GRRC  will host a follow up match for service rifle shooters.   The CMP Games match #1 is for M-1 garand shooters, and obsolete bolt gunners can enter in Match #2.  These matches are to be fired consecutively and shooters can enter both. Each match is 30 shots-- 10 standing, 10 sitting, and 10 prone.   CMP games program -- Click Here  Rifles and ammo are available to advanced entries -- see program.

Eau Claire Rifle Club is also having season ending matches this weekend.  Saturday will be a MR prone match to be shot at 600 yds and Sunday's match will be an 80 OTC.  See match program  -  Click Here   
 

300 meter matches continue their regular schedule at Mpls. Rifle Club-- The next to be held Oct 10  -- See schedule - Click Here

Results from The Sept 12th 300 meter match were sent in --tks to Brian Shiffman

  From Brian:

"Sunday the 12^th dawned bright but chilly with nary a breeze.  By the time the match began there was a hint of a breeze from the west but the sky remained bright as the temperature began a steady rise.  It was quite comfortable in the shooting house without the need for "artificial" climate control.   

We had a couple of new shooters that shot in F-Class with short barrel AR-15's.  One was only a 16 inch barrel.  

A few shooters were competing in classes that they normally do not.  Lance Peters and Erhard Bruderer chose to shoot offhand for the match.  Unfortunately for Lance, his electronic trigger decided to quit functioning soon after his sighting shots (which were x's).  I had a battery that might have worked but it was with my free pistol at home so I was of no help at all.  So Lance did not have a score for the match but Erhard continued to shoot offhand with a total of 510.

Ed Facundo usually shoots 3-P but shot prone for this match.  I was also shooting prone having played with my load the previous weekend and declaring it OK for match work.  I did score my highest prone score by a few points, a 527.  Ed cleaned the clocks of prone shooters with a 572.   Mike Marzitelli shot prone ,also, with a Schmidt Rubin of ancient heritage; well, maybe not quite that old.  

Robert Smith, with his stone stock Savage Benchrest in 6BR came oh so close with a 598.

The full score results is at http://www.edfpages.com/mgfc/results.php?match=9 

The next match will be on October 10^th.  More about that as we get closer to the date. 

See you at the range." 

BrianBrian D. Shiffman shiff004@umn.edu     

Last Weekend's matches:

Highpower

The Mid Range Club vs Club team championship was held at NorthStar Rifle Club Sat. Sept 18.

 

The Winners:  NorthStar Rifle Club--Omer Hamer, Bob Peasley, George Pfoser, and Steve Erickson (Not pictured)

F-class winners: NorthStar Rifle Club: Ben Winget, Pat Scully, Ken Erickson, and Bruce cotton.  (Too shy for a team picture)

Four F-class teams and 4 Sling teams vied for honors in the Club vs Club Championship this past Saturday at NorthStar Rifle Club.  NorthStar rifle club came out on top in both classes when the shooting was done.  Participation in this event was a little lighter this year.  For some reason,  3 of the Power house clubs could not get their act together and field a team. Shooters from GRRC, Northwestern Gun club, and Elk River Sportsmans club did not show up with enough folks to field even one 4 man team to defend their clubs honor.  Last year GRRC alone fielded enough shooters for 3 complete teams.  The few shooters from those clubs the did show up were able to make up a couple pick-up teams, but were not elegible to win. 

Firing the top Team score  of 2357- 95x out of a possible 2400, NorthStar (Peasley) nipped the Mpls. Rifle Club team of Mark Rohrman, Steve Knutson, Stacey Tamulinas, and Erhhard Bruderer by just 3 pts. and gets the bragging rights for the next year.  The top individual shooter of the Day was Stacey T. who fired a 599-37x -- dropping only 1 pt all day in the 60 shots for record.  Next best was Steve Erickson with a 596-28x. 

F-class honors go to Ben Wenget's NorthStar team, whose shooters held hard on those tiny F-class targets and was able to outscore

the FTR team of J. Rykhus., K. Ulrich, J. Lanto, and Adam Shidla,  The Johnson family NorthStar team consisting of Johnson, Johnson, Johnson, and Hanson also put a good score on the board.  

For event pictures-- Click Here 

Small Bore 

 Sunday, Sept 19th, I had the pleasure of attending my first Sm Bore match at Elk River Sportsman's Club.  Even though this club has a great SB range, not many matches have been held there in recent years.  Chris Hazelton has now tapped the increasing interest in Sm bore shooting in this area and this was the 2nd match he held there this year.  A mix of 10 adults, Juniors, and Sub-juniors took advantage of a very nice fall day and the promise of light winds to put 160 total shots down range at 50 yds, 50m, and 100 yds.  The first match was the 50 yd match using Iron sights and Chad Danielson fired a 399-21x winning that match.  Chad is my chief rival in the Expert Class.  The Dewar match (50 and 100yds with Irons) saw Steve Knutson (master class) take the lead by dropping only one pt

on the 100yd target and leaving us "experts" behind 5 pts in the agg.  Junior 'Marksman', Roy Cochran, led that class - down 15 for the day.  The 100 yd match was contested with "Any' sights, and Steve, Chad and I opted for scopes (my old eyes need the help), while most of the rest of the shooters relied on their skills with Iron sights. Steve Knutson extended his lead over the pack by shooting a 398-30x, putting myself down another 5 pts while I gained a small lead over Chad.  The last Match of the day was the always tough 50m Match, and by now the the wind flags were all pointing in different directions at any one time and my wind mill was going around in circles as fast as the propeller. Steve sealed the deal by dropping only 1 pt (399-27x) while I held off a run for the Expert class by Chad by one pt with a 397-22.  Chad getting more Xs, but .......

Steve Knutson is the Match Winner with a well shot 1592-107x.  I go away happy with a higher than average 1584-82x, after having spent the day pulling triggers with a great group of folks on a beautiful fall day.  What more could a person ask for?

Roy Cochran (soon to be a "sharpshooter") led the "marksman" class with a 1563-49x with the other Juniors right behind in the 1540s.  Julie Huseby gets "High Woman" honors with a great 1554-56x.

We all thank Chris Hazelton for putting on a great match for the Last SB match of the season, and to Mr. Huseby, and Bruce Blahut for giving up their time to be Scorers at the match.

Slide show of event pictures---- Click Here 

This Coming Weekend

Dont forget --

Saturday- Sept 25 is a big Leg Match at GRRC      See program- click here

Sunday  -- Sept 26   CMP Games at GRRC

Sat. and Sunday  --  matches at Eau Claire

That's all Folks

Hawkeye

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