Arrrgh!!!!!

I am having computer problems.  Blog will be updated ASAP
Hawkeye

Flash ! Pictures from this weekends NRA Champ matches at Elk River

This weekends NRA championship Matches at Elk River Sportsman's club were a great success! About 39 shooters participated in both the individual and Team Matches.  There was great weather, a great Barbeque Sat night, and all around good shooting.

See Pictures at :     Click Here    (unedited yet)

Match report to follow: asap

State Champion ---  Kevin Bangen

Service Rifle results

This weeks news letter posted below -but

I took a weekend off and got back to the Basics last weekend.  What are the basics (?) -- same as always----hot cars, pretty girls, good beer and brats.  Around here, you can get it all at Road America--   GT-1 Corvettes, 700 hp Nascar stockers, warm summer day with beautful scenery of the 4 mi road course,  and the best beer and Brats Wisc has to offer.    

Sorry I missed the match.

The Week Ahead -- June 23

The Week Ahead - Shooters news June 23, 2010
The State Highpower Championships are this weekend. Two days of Over the Course Highpower matches to be held at Elk River Sportsman's Club. Saturday is the 4 man Team match - 80 shots per shooter. Then on Sunday it will be the individual Matches for State Champion. This is a combined Match rifle and Service rifle State Championship. I'm leaning toward shooting Service Rifle in the individual matches Sunday. I might have a chance to win Senior Service Rifle Champ. if I can get a point more than Capt Bob, and besides I have to defend last years title, that Bob and I have traded off a couple times.
This from Capt. Bob
"The NRA championship is this coming weekend at Elk River with an 80 shot team match Saturday. The Marine Corps Reserves will have a team here for what ever that's worth to you. There are at least 4 other team entries in already. If you would like to shoot on a team but do not have 3 others let me know. I'll try to get you together with 3 other guys for a pick up team.
Also be advised there will be a Bar B Q Sat. after the team match. Shooting should be done by 4 to 415 with 4 relays.
Also be advised the line officers will be requiring & reminding you to have known zeros for each distance. ..."
Capt Bob                   State Championship Program -- Click here


Long range shooters continue at Lodi with the Midwest Palma Matches all this week. I'll try to get some news on that as soon as possible. I do know that my good friend from Phoenix, Doug Frerich got the win in today's (Tuesdays) match -- good shooting Doug! Other local shooters participating in these matches, and expected to do well, are John Andres, Morgan Dietrich, Bill Lair, Bob Meade, Steve Knutson, Stacey Tamulinas. Good Luck, Guys!
Following the Palma matches conclusion on Friday, Long Range shooters that haven't gotten had quite enough fun yet can stay at Lodi for Saturday's and Sunday's Wisconsin Long Range State champ matches. match program -- click here


Small Bore
Chad Danielson
"The June 20th Mpls Rifle Club 1600 Smallbore match

The 2nd 1600 in M.R.C.’s summer series of one day prone matches, saw 10 shooters fire the match, with Junior Shooters out numbering the adults 6 to 4 on this particular day. The days conditions were not bad for shooting good scores, winds were for the most part manageable, although occasionally could sneak up and get shooters if ones attention to the stronger breezes slipped. In the end Ross Ewert came out Match Winner posting an impressive 1591-108X, with
two 200’s along the way, one 200-15X in the 50 yard match, and one 200-15X in the 100 yard match. Following Ross in the standings were Junior Shooter Alex
Giesar posting a 1574-78X winning the Junior Category , followed by Jim Biles
just a point behind him at  1573-73X for 3rd overall.
Up and coming Sub-Junior shooters with bright futures Eric Hazelton
and Samuel Ewert battled it out all day through all the matches just a point or
two between them in each match with Eric narrowly edging out Samuel in the end
by only six points 1539 to 1533. It was encouraging to see the strong junior turnout for the match,
and are looking for an increasing adult turnout for the next 1600 Course coming
up on Sunday July 18th. Adult shooters have several Junior class shooters
closing the talent gap quickly in the smallbore prone game."
Chad
         Results: Click Here               Pictures Click Here


July 18th Prone Small Bore 1600          Match program -- Click Here


Ross Ewert's 1591 with 108 Xs is an outstanding score for an Expert Class shooter. If he keeps that up, I hope he is going to the Nationals this summer. It's good to see Jim Biles out at a match. I am looking forward to getting to that July 18th match.


Highpower
Want to shoot Long Range ?
From Kurt Borlaug:
" I have been approached by a several sling shooters about the potential for a 1k/Palma League for next year. The interest is growing in LR and many of the SR guys are willing to give it a run and many have purchased appropriate iron for the game. I believe this from the natural urge to try something new, while still competing in OTC.
It would be for STRICTLY SLING SHOOTERS ONLY!! I'm envisioning a bi-monthly type thing with hopefully a mix of Palma and 1k.....or mostly 1k.
It's a shame that our range is so under-utilized past 600 yards. Any thoughts for this please let me know, maybe it will be more successful than my attempt at the HP Prone league. Having said all that, up front I have my hands full and would need someone to belly up to take care of the paperwork/ $ collecting/etc. ...."
Kurt


Upcoming
June 26-27 NRA and Service Rifle State champ --- Elk River Sportsman's club Click Here
July 4th -- M-1 Garand Match -- Eau Claire Rifle Club Match Program -- Click Here
July 10 -11 NRA Regional OTC matches -- NWGC Duluth Match program -- Click Here
July 17-18 Pig Roast Matches -- Eau Claire Match program -- click here
July 18 Small Bore Prone 1600 -- MRC
Tuesday mornings -- Small Bore continues at GRRC. We may be gaining a 4th regular next week.


Hope to see you all at this weekends NRA matches.
Don't miss the Team Match on Saturday. Even if you aren't yet on a team come to the match, There are always pickup teams formed at sign in.


Note: There will probably not be a timely news letter next week as I have out of town guests, but pictures of this weekends matches will be post on the blog asap. after Wed.
Hawkeye

Spectacular !!!

Blue Angels performing at Eau Claire yesterday.
I had the opportunity to fly over to Eau Claire  airport yesterday with Capt. Bob in his Super Decathlon and watch the Blue Angels perform their astounding air show.  Tight formations, amazing acrobatics, high speed passes -- wow what a day !
More picts -- click here

The Week Ahead -- Shooters news for MN Area June 15th 2010

The Week Ahead -- Shooters News  6/15/10

This week Capt. Bob Peasley will be heading off early to Wisconsin's Lodi long range shooting facility. He has been invited to shoot and wind coach at a US Veteran's Team training session to be held prior to the regular Long Range matches. Bob has told me that he will try to write a rpt on that training session for next week's newsletter.

This coming weekend there will be Small Bore matches for all prone shooters to participate in. Mpls Rifle Club is hosting the 2nd in their summer series of Outdoor prone 1600s on Sunday the 20th. Last month's Regional (1600) had the best turnout for a long time and its good to see these great shooting matches well attended. I think that there are more highpower shooters attending as it is well known that Small bore is great practice for highpower. If you are a highpower shooter and you are losing too many pts at the 600yd line, these 1600s are the best way to practice that prone position, sight alignment, and trigger squeeze. click here for program

Highpower shooters can travel down the beautiful Mississippi River to the Lacrosse Rifle Club and shoot mid-range prone matches both Saturday and Sunday June 19th and 20th--and get tuned up for the marathon of the Lodi Palma matches and Long Range Champ that start on the Monday just after the smoke clears from the Lacrosse matches.

Long Range Prone shooters are gathering to migrate to Lodi Wisc starting on June 21 for 7 days Palma and 1000yd shooting matches that make up the very popular Midwest Palma and Wisc. Long Range Championship week. These matches have become a magnet for LR shooters all over the country as the shooting is well attended by top rank shooters, and therefore very competitive. The matches are well run and give the shooter a chance to fire an entire match daily for 7 consecutive days---which is more Long Range shooting than you get at the Nationals. Midwest Palma   match program - click here

Last Weekend
last weekend was my annual June weekend up at NWGC shooting their 3 day, 240 shot OTC matches Fri, through Sunday. This year I could shoot only Sat and Sunday so I missed being rained out Friday and headed up Saturday at 0530hrs. It was already light as I passed Forest Lake and looking like one of those all day rains, but I had a room at the Inn and if the match was again rained out, I knew that a good time sitting around the Barbeque would take its place, and make it worth the trip. The weather was forecast for no rain on Sunday.

Saturday, when I pulled into the parking area behind the 200 yd line I saw there were a lot of cars, so good, it would be a good match. The conditions were good and bad. Bad was the light--heavy overcast--The day was sorta dark. Good was the lack of wind. I mean not a ripple on the lake and not a Trembling Aspen leaf trembling. I was 1st Relay, so good, no wind for offhand, but this was first match with space gun for a few months and no practice off hand. Well some days things just go well and I had a 98 on first string of standing before getting back to reality for the 2nd ten shots. Kevin Bangen won that match with 191 and Bob Woods just back with a 190. In the 200 rapid match Sam Gottlieb fired a 199-8x and Matt Griffin a 197-9x, great scores, but not good enough as Kevin posted a 199-10x. Moving back to the 300 yd line for that rapid fire match, the wind was still not a factor. Now it was David Salo's turn to challange Kevin and he fired a solid 199-8x, Good enough for only 2nd place as Kevin fired clean 200-10x---yes half x's again ! The 500 yd match started good for me-- 2 sighters and first 10 shots were all 10s and Xs. Too good to continue--shot 11 was a 9 and then the killer---a crossfire 10 for shot 18---arrrg! Dale Wickstrom overcame the low light conditions and fired a 198-8 on that difficult minute-of-angle target, winning that match over Mark Rohrman's 197-7 and Dave Salo, Kevin, Sam Gottlieb, and Omer Hamers all with 196s.

Kevin Bangen wins the Days agg score with a 786-33, but not far behind was Dave Salo with a 777 and Sam Gottlieb with 776.

After the match, the Group repaired to the camp ground and SB Range Bldg for some cold refreshments, and a barbeque, courtesey of NWGC. The brats and the GrainBelt were fantastic. For some, the gathering lasted well into the night.

Sunday was forecast for a better day, but it looked about the same rainy, misty, dark day was in store for us as yesterday. It wasn't raining, so Steve Billmeir got the match started on time at 0900, and Kevin Bangen started winning on the first shot. Kevin shot an awsome 195 in the standing match. Only Omer Hamer came close with his 190 standing score. It was in this match that Larry Weidell won the "Death Sprial" award for his 2nd string of off-hand. Kevin led the day by 5 pts going into the Sitting Rapid fire match. Yours truley was able to give Kevin a run for his money in that match, shooting a 199-7x, and Matt Griffing shooting an even better 199-12 x put some pressure on Kevin, but when you shoot a clean 200 you don't have to worry about a little pressure from behind.

Sam Gottlieb wins the 300yd Rapid fire match. While Kevin fired a good 199-12x, Sam shot a clean 200 -8x. Points are worth more than Xs.   

At the 500 yd line I was really dialed in and shot 10, X for sighters and then 7 Xs in a row on the way to another clean first string at that yard line. Then nines and worse put me out of the running, and Omer Hamer showed us what he could do and put a hard fought 199-11x on the board to win that Match.

Kevin Bangen didn't win every match of the day, but he did put an awesome score of 792-36x on the board and win the day. I think that is the highest score that I can ever remember being shot at a Highpower OTC match around here. Awesome shooting !

Two Day Aggreate

Match Winner -- - Kevin Bangen --1578-69
1st High Master -- Omer Hamer -- 1555-45
1st Master -- Sam Gottleib -- 1548-43x
1st Expert -- Mark Rohrman -- 1479-26

Results : click Pic to enlarge

Well--- it was a great weekend. Lots of good shooting up North, where you can smell the pine trees. Hats off to Elliot, Wick, and the Guys for all the Range improvements constantly being made to NWGC and the tip-top shape the range was in for the matches. I'm impressed with your new indoor Small Bore range facility
.
Pictures of Matches -- Click Here 


 The 300m Match at MRC
From Brian Shiffman
"What a nice day for shooting. Some overcast which eventually gave way to sunshine but only a hint of wind. The wind was enough to bite you if you were not paying attention. The correction was not much but enough if you were going for a top score. You still had to keep your guard up.

   We had 5 people shooting 3 position. Erhard won the class in spite of penalties assessed for two cross fires He closed out with a higher score for standing than for prone. Jeramy Harrison with an AR15 came in second only 6 points behind Erhard. Of course, without the crossfires it would not be so close.
   There were three of us shooting prone class. Chuck Diehl easily won the class even though there were some choice words coming from him at times. You would have thought he was trailing us all. He must have had a bad day all around. Russ Siakel, with an AR15 and battle sights shot a respectable 494, but being consistent through the match series. He has some things to take care of and he’ll be a lot better. I did my prone thing; brilliant at times and shotgun patterns at others. At one point I had a string of five consecutive 9.9’s. Oh I did have a few 10’s and x’s but too many 6, 7 and 8’s. I thought my sight alignment and sight picture was really good and I was stable with good trigger release and follow-through. I called a lot of 10’s that turned out to be anything but. I thought my sights were loose and checked all the screws. I had a group of shots right below the 10 ring, so I adjusted one click up and promptly put a shot at 12 O’clock in the 7 ring. One click down and I’m back just below the 10 ring. I might have to go back to my reloading analysis and work up another load. Oh, woe is me, woe is me J
    The two F-Class shooters were Robert Smith and Garold Jones. Robert had a scope suitable for star gazing. Conditions were good in that there was little mirage. But, Robert was really on his game. He dropped only 1 point from a perfect 600. Garold shot a respectable 588. As he said to me, “trigger time.”
The results can be seen at the MRC 300 meter score page for June. click here for complete Results
The July match is July 11.
Keep them straight. "              Brian D. Shiffman

Service Rifle Match held at Bald Eagle -- no news

Next Matches
June 20 Sunday --Small Bore 1600      match program - click here
June 19-20 Sat and Sunday -- Mid Range -- Lacrosse Rifle Club
June 21-25 -- Midwest Palma -- Lodi, Wisc      match program - click here
June 26-27 -- Wisc Long Range Champ -- Lodi          Match program -- click here
June 26-27 -- MN St. Service Rifle and NRA weekend   Match program -- click here

I'll not be shooting this next weekend as I will be watching NASCAR stockers rub fenders at Road America, Wisc.  Home of the best Brats, sudzy drinks, and racing. If you participate in a match next weekend--- please send us a rpt, and some pictures. 

Hawkeye

The Week Ahead for Shooters -- June 8

The Week Ahead for Shooters -- June 8th
Over the Course (OTC) shooters will be heading north to NorthWestern Gun Club this coming weekend to participate in the Triple Header of OTC matches happening there June 11, 12, and 13th. That's right--Three days of 80 shot OTC matches just 2 1/2 hrs north on the shore of Hunter Lake at one of MN's nicest rifle ranges. Getting on the road by 0530 in White bear Lake gets me there in plenty of time to sign in. Nice camping facilities are availiable and there are usually post match get together's to wet one's whistle and discuss the days shooting. I find that the Americ Inn in Cloquet is the best place for me to get a comfortable nights rest. One day or Three days- come up and shoot. Slide show of last years match -- click here  --
Match Program -- click here

June 12th  Saturday--Closer to home    There is also a 50 shot OTC Service Rifle match at Bald Eagle Sportwmen's club in Hugo, east of #61 on 125th st.   Match Program - click here

300 meter Shooting
June 13 Sunday -- Mpls Rifle Club has a 300m prone match scheduled -- electronic targets (fun)
  From Brian Shiffman: "Yeseree gang, the June 300 Meter MRC match is coming up this Sunday, June 13th at the Minneapolis Rifle Club range in St. Francis. You do not have to be a member to shoot this match, but you do have to use match or full metal jacket bullets; no expanding bullets, no A-Max bullets.
The match starts at 10AM except for PK; Hey, PK, the match starts at 9AM.
We welcome 3 position, prone, F-class and offhand shooters. Match fee is still $15 including the fee to the State of Minnesota for the privilege of…"

Last Weekend
GRRC's long range facility hosted the 1000 yd Regional matches -- No Results forwarded to me.

Leg Match
The CMP has posted official Results of the May GRRC Leg match   Click Here

Small Bore
The next Outdoor conventional prone match is scheduled for June 20th at MRC -- keep practicing!

Two weeks out.
June 26 & 27th NRA and Service Rifle State Championships at Elk River Sportsmen's club.
Match program -- Click Here

Hope to see you all up at Duluth this weekend.
Hawkeye

The Week Ahead -- June 2nd

The Week Ahead --

Long range shooters again get to try their skill at GRRC's long range shooting facility. The 1000 yd regional takes place this coming Sat and Sunday.    See Below for match program.

Service Rifle shooters can travel South to Iowa for River City's, and Iowa's State Service Rifle Championship--matches both Sat and Sunday. Steve Hays is match director.   Program see Below.
 Closer to home is the Service rifle Clinic and match at Post 435 in Elco on Sat June 12. Contact Mark Havlik and See Program below.

Don't dispare, match rifle shooters, your turn is coming in 2 weeks at Northwestern Gun Club.

GRRC's Monday night Sm Bore League continues with attendance being down somewhat this year. Let's see you SB shooters out there. There are 3 ea 1600's left to shoot and make up days are availiable. Three shooters are shooting this league on Tuesday mornings at 0900 hrs--join us if you can. We will be shooting 50 yd and 50m matches this week till I can get a key for the lawn mower, and clear the weeds and grass obscuring the 100yd targets.

Upcoming --This weekend
June 5       Saturday -Post 435 Service Rifle Clinic and match   Program click here
June 5-6    Sat and Sunday -- 1000 yd Regional at GRRC -- Program click here
June 5-6    Sat and Sunday -- Iowa State Service Rifle championship -- River City. Program click here

Two weeks out
In two weeks I'll be making my annual trip to Duluth to shoot in the 3 days of Over the Course matches put on by the Northwestern Gun Club on Hunter Lake. I have always said that these matches were the highlight of my summer shooting season. I just like shooting at the NWGC range and with that group of folks up there. It's an easy 2 1/2 hr drive and you can shoot one day or all three days like I try to do. Motels are near by, and excellent camping facilities are available at the range-- indoor space, shower, kitchen, etc. Don't miss the best matches of the year --
  June 11-13 --  Fri, Sat, and Sunday --  OTC matches at NWGC all three days. Program: Click here
  June 12      --  Saturday --  50 shot OTC at Bald Eagle Sportman's Club     Program Click here
Keep em in the Middle
Hawkeye

Service Rifle Team Coaching Plan for Camp Perry Nationals.

Team Plan for coaching at Camp Perry  Click Here  or Here

The Rest of the Story

You all have read that Robert "Sandy" Sandager -- our shooting companion and friend, has passed away. 
Now read "The rest of the story"

Sandy Sandger

Click here for the Rest of the Story