The Week Ahead and MN Long Range State Championship -- Results (1000 yd and Palma)

Shooters News for the MN area - Aug 2, 2011     

 The Week Ahead

With the weather being forecast for warm and a little humid this coming weekend, the best choice of matches to shoot might just be to head to Northwestern Gun Club for this weekends two days (Aug 6-7) of OTC Highpower matches.  Saturday, Aug 6 th is OTC and Sunday, Aug 7 th is a Mid Range Prone match.  Yes, its time once again for the "Poor man's Camp Perry" on beautiful Hunter's lake.  I have been going to these matches for many years and they are always some of the best of the summer.  Click Here  for a Match Bulletin.
   If you need to stick closer to home, there is a great Championship match to shoot nearby. Dust off that Sm Bore match rifle and come to Mpls Rifle Club, both Saturday and Sunday (Aug 6-7), for the Prone Outdoor Metric St. Championship. Yup, it's all belly shooting - 160 shots each day to test your skill on those pesky little international metric targets.  This match is also the F-Class Championship for Small Bore, and Seniors shooters are encouraged to come and shoot with a scope in all matches.    Click Here  for match bulletin
  On Sunday, Aug 7th, there will also be a 300 m match at MRC.  Prone or 3P shooting on those sophisticated electronic targets.  This is cool stuff. If you haven't shot these 300m computer operated targets you've missed some fun.
    So as you can see there is a little something for everyone, and you can shoot both days or just one day at either of these two matches.  See you out there -  let's pull some triggers.  

Last Weekend  
The Minnesota Long Range State Championship -   1000yd and Palma took place last weekend at GRRC's long range shooting facility near Harris MN.

Steve McGee, renouned rifle stock builder from Kansas, fired an awesome 592-36x in the Minn. State Long range championship to take the match win on Saturday.  Steve started out by winning the Any sight match with a 199 and never looked back, following that with a 194 and another 199 in the two iron sight matches.

  Jay Johnson, MN resident, won the State champ trophy and came in 2nd overall with his great effort, scoring at 589-24x. I believe that this is Jay's first major Long Range win.  Congratulations to Jay and Steve for surviving the rain storm, and very hot humid weather while posting these top scores.  Jay has a Master Classification and had to out-shoot 10 High Masters to win this Championship.

  Just one point behind Jay was Stacey Tamulinas, and Shirley McGee. Both of these hard holders posted 588s with Stacey taking that 3rd place by only a few Xs. 
  Erick Hazelton, a junior Small bore shooter who just returned from a successful trip to the Nationals at Camp Perry,  fired an inspired 195 in the first match with his newly rebarreled Rem 700 in .223 cal. Even though Erick lost a rd in the final match, his mature performance put him on the top of the Ex class for the day.  I think we'll be seeing more of Erick in the winners circle not too long in the future.
   In the F-Class division , Adam Shidla also came out of the Expert class to wrap up the overall F-class win by posting a 579-20x.   Also drilling xs and 10s on those 1 moa targets was Scott Brabec, who took 2nd place honors (570-6x).  Remember that the 10 ring on the F targets is only as big as the X ring on the Iron sight targets !  Great shooting guys!

Click Pict. to expand

 --Complete results of Saturday's
1000 yd Minn. State Championship:  
   

Photo from Capt Bob

  Saturday and Sunday results:              Incl.  Palma Champ. --

The Palma Championship was shot on Sunday and again it was Hot and Humid conditions.  Hot or not, it was a new day and a new match to win.  3 shooters took the lead after the first stage shot at the 800 yd line. 3 shooters who fired exactly the same score -- 150-11x for the 15 record shots. That's perfect scores and 70 % Xs. Brian Mrnak, Stacey Tamulinas and Robert Mead set the bar right a the top to begin this match and showed what it would take if you wanted to win.

How hot was it?

  Moving to the 900 yd line, it was Larry Miller, Steve McGee and Jay Johnson who fired the clean 150 point scores and showed that they were not out of the competition yet and would go back to the 1000 yd line ready to win the match.    Only one pt down on the leader board are Stacey, Larry, and Steve.  
  1000 yds is a long way away.  I can hardly see the targets that far away.  The shooters in today's match not only could see those tiny targets, but they were putting a lot of shots in the middle -- in the X ring.  Stacey and Steve fought it out to the end, and at the end they again ended up with identical scores of 149-6x. Tied for the match win  - nope!   Brian Mrnak had fired a clean 150 to take the 1000 yd stage.  Stacey and Steve were tied in points total again for the over all match winner. Both had fired 448 for the day and it would fall to Stacey's count of 27 Xs to earn him the 1st place in this State Palma Match.  
   The High Resident  score was fired again Sunday by Jay Johnson, and you can see Jay had a pretty good weekend. Jay Johnson is the Mn State 1000 yd, Palma and Long Range Championship and he now has the trophies to prove it!
  In the F-class, John Andres combined scores for the two days good enough for him to win the F-class championship. Steven Winzelman was only a few pts. behind in this class. 
 It was also nice to see our friends, Frank Fisher and David Simonsen come over from Wisc. to shoot some long range. 
  Shirley McGee fired match fired scores that were competitive in every match and ended up High Woman for the championship. 

Champions !

 From: Capt Bob

The 2011 3 gun match winner is Steve McGee from Salina Kansas standing on right. His wife Shirley is high woman in the middle. Junior Erick Hazelton standing on the left. And finally kneeling on the left is Stacey Tamulinas, Jay Johnson then Rick Severs -  winner of the F class Palma match.  
All state champions have been updated in my records.                

More Notes:

From:  Capt. Bob    

 "Those of you at the 1000 yard match last Sat.  no doubt recall I had ammo trouble in match 2  and quit. I stopped shooting after 5 record shots in match 2 iron sights.  I was holding SOLID 8 ring elevation with the 6.5X284 ! Last summer, my load of 50.0 gr H4350 & 142's shot 10 shots in under 2" at 600 yards with a .050 jam.

I blew 1 primer Sat. and the load was not that hot last year.

I loaded the last 150 rounds out of a Sierra box (142 gr.) early this summer.....same data but .025 jump.  I kind of remember seeing that a few of the rounds seemed to be taller in the box but didn't think much about it.

Monday morning I started checking seat depth and discovered as much as .032 difference base to ogive between bullets.  So I pulled the 2 bullets with the biggest difference.  Lo & behold the long one weighed 155 gr & the short one was 142 gr.  I have NEVER owned a 155 gr. 6.5 MM in my life which means the damn things left the factory that way.  I kind of recall having elevation problems last year but not near that bad.  Last year I was jamming .045, so even a 142 would have had a little jam.  When I shortened the jam to .025 this year it got real ugly.

So the moral of the story is if something don't look right it's probably NOT!"     

Two Weeks out
Aug 13 -  From Capt. Bob -- I just received confirmation that Jerry Johnson will run a 9AM (stat orifice closes at 0830) $5.00 practice MRP at 3, 5 & 600 on Sun. Aug. 14 at North Star.  Depending on turn out it might be a 2 relay, score in the pit, no award, gone by noon 30 event.  


Thats all folks!

Hawkeye

Shooters news for the MN Area -- July 26

Good luck to all those shooters who are now or soon will be competiting at the Camp Perry Nationals !

Meanwhile back in MN-
Now that the prone shooters got all practiced up at last weekends Mid Range Regional matches, they can head up to GRRC this next Saturday and Sunday for a little long range shooting. They will be joining the dedicated Palma and Long range shooting aficionados at MN's  long range State Championships - just north of the cities at GRRC's long range shooting facility. Shooters will be competing in both NRA rifle sling, and Iron sight class or the F-class matches. 
  Saturday, July 30 the matches are all at 1000 yds and the 1000yd state champion will be crowned after the three 20 shot matches at that distance.  It's a three gun match, so if you want you can shoot that first 20 Any sight match with a scoped gun and then switch guns for the following two Iron sight matches.   Unlimited sighters are allowed in each match.
  Sunday, July 31,  Palma matches are the order for the day.  Each shooter will take sighters and 15 shots for record first at 800 yds, and then the same course of fire at 900 and 1000yds.  These matches require that .308 caliber be used and that puts more emphasis on the individual shooter's ability as most of the rifles will be fairly equal in performance capabilities.  No trick wildcat calibers are allowed to give any shooter an advantage.  This makes for very competitive matches. 
            Mn 1000yd and Palma State Champ. Program --  Click here  

Last Weekend

This weekend's prone Mid Range (300-600yds) Championships at NorthStar Rifle Club, Red Wing, MN were affected by rain on Saturday during the Iron sight matches, and then by just plain beautiful weather on Sunday.

In the NRA Sling shooting Class, Brian Mrnak fired an almost perfect 599/600 on Saturday despite rain delays and hot humid weather, and then backed up this championship effort in Sunday with a 596/600 to win the Any sight matches and clinch the Regional championship.  Steve Erickson, always threat in any prone competition, finished only 2 points back with a great shooting on both days.
    Complete Results:   Click Here    

 Notes:

 I asked Brian and the other medal winners about the equipment that they uses to such good consistant success.

  From Brian Mrnak: -- Gold Medal NRA class

"I used a Nesika bay chambered in 6.5-284 and nestled in a Master Class prone stock.    I shoot 139 grain lapua scenars at a velocity of 2890 shooting 51.2 grains  of reloader 22, lapua case, federal primer and the bullet  soft seated to the lands." -- Brian

 

 Years ago when I was shooting Long Range, I also had great success with using RL-22 in the 6.5 x.284.  In my Rem. with the Kreiger barrel, 52.2 gns of this powder pushed the 142 Sierras at about 3000 fps.--and a lot of  them into the x-ring - me

In the F-class division, Ben Winget, fired a 590 on Saturday while just getting warmed up, and then bettered that impressive score, with a 595 on Sunday and took the combined FTR and F-open championship.  That was great shooting on those unforgiving f-class targets.  Pat Scully, who dropped only 4 pts behind Ben, on Saturday, fired X for X, and 10 for 10 with Ben on Sunday, and at the end of the day took back one important point of Ben's lead. Pat's 596 score was good for the days match win.   They both shot 33 X's during the 60 shots for record.    That's 55% X's !

   Ben also was kind enough to share with us what kind of Equipment it takes to be competitive in the micro-precision F-class world these days. 

 From: Ben Winget: -- Gold Medal F-class

 " I am shooting a 6mm Dasher (6BR improved), My rifle has a BAT action, Master Class- F-class stock, Kreiger Barrel, and a Nightforce scope. Chambering was done by Jim Kobe, Alex Sitman bedded the stock.  I am shooting the Berger 108 BT bullets with RL15 and CCI primers at about 2950 fps.  Best regards,"   - Ben

From: Adam Shidla -- 3rd place F-class

Jim, I'm shooting a 6.5x47 Lapua in a Savage F-class rifle chambered by Jim Kobe

36.8 grains of RL15 pushes 130 Bergers to 2950 in a Lapua case sparked by a Federal 205m primer. Krieger barrel,Nightforce 12-42 BR scope.

From: Steve Erickson  - Silver medal NRA class

Jim,  For Mid-range shooting I use one of my OTC rifles; I do not have a special dedicated Mid-range rifle-I don't shoot enough of this specialized shooting to justify another gun.  Last weekend I shot my post 64 model 70 on Saturday and my pre-64 on Sunday.  Both are 243 Win caliber.  The Sat gun was barreled by Randy Gregory with a Krieger barrel; the Sunday gun was barreled by Doc Erickson wth a Broughton barrel.

    I have shot the 243 win for about a decade-I started shooting it due to advice and technical help from Carl Bernosky.   There is not a better cartridge (ballistically) than the 243 Win (for OTC shooting).  With Bernosky's load (47 gr. H1000, 107 gr bullet) this cartridge does it all.  My Krieger barrel has 2100 rds through it-still shooting great.

My rifle stocks are OTC design made by Steve McGee and Alex Sitman.

My philosophy of long range shooting (technique) is as follows:

1.) I observed Rudy Wadekamper shooting when I was a junior-he fired his rounds at 600 yards very quickly.

Chuck Diehl at the 600 yd line

I observed David Tubb fire at 600 yards-he fired more quickly than Rudy.   I read what 1962 National Champ Earl Burton said in the American rifleman-  "If you can fire all your record shots in 10 minutes (at 600 yards) you will experience about half the wind changes you would experience in 20 minutes".

2.) If the conditions are changing look for a predominant condition to fire in- and when that condition is present shoot quickly-wait out reversals, etc.  

3.) Have confidence in your abilities and have a good time. 

4.) Don't plot your shots or use a scorebook-spend the time observing wind, mirage, and focusing on quickly breaking good shots (Xs).

 Steve (Raoul) Erickson  

Thanks Guys for the input. 

  From:  SSgt Al Schneider -- MN Nat. guard and Highpower Service rifle competitor

   69 Minnesota National Guard Soldiers gathered at Camp Ripley July 16th and 17th to participate in the 2011 Minnesota National Guard State Marksmanship Sustainment Exercise. The two day event comprised of: four individual rifle, two individual pistol, and three aggregate matches; is an annual event designed to pit each unit's top marksmen against others from throughout the state. Highlighted by the Excellence in Competition in Rifle and Pistol Matches, Soldiers had the opportunity to win 'leg' points toward distinguished designation. The highest marksmanship badges in the Army, a Soldier must accumulate 30 EIC points, or 'Legs', to be awarded the Distinguished Rifleman or Distinguished Pistol Shot badges. Competitors in the State Marksmanship Sustainment Exercises are eligible for 4 EIC points in pistol and rifle, with the top 10 percent of competitors receiving their Bronze EIC badge............
 .....Chief Sorben and SSG Al Schneider will be representing the Minnesota National Guard at the National Trophy matches at the end of the month. Guard shooters will have an opportunity to refine their marksmanship skills at the Gopher Rifle and Revolver Club at their annual Service Member Rifle Clinic September held September 24-25. For more information on the clinic and leg match at GRRC, go to: http://www.mrra.org/downloads/grrc/2011_Leg.pdf ............    

     Note:   SSGT Schneider, CW4  Sorben and SFC Chad Blake, who regularly compete in MN Service rifle matches, either won or placed in the top three in every one of these Army Nat. Guard marksmanship matches.   
    
Two Weeks Out

Aug 6-7    Small bore Outdoor Metric Prone Regional  at MRC -  Match Program Click Here

Aug 6       Poor Man's Camp Perry (OTC) at NWGC Duluth  -  match program   Click Here

Aug 7       Poor Man's Camp Perry (Mid range Prone) at NWGC Duluth  -  match program   Click Here    

That's All Folks
Hawkeye  

MN Regional Mid Range Prone Champ results -- Just in !

Complete Results:

  Click Pict. to Expand

Shooters News for the MN Area - 7/20/11

The Week Ahead

Play it cool!
   It is supposed (?) to cool off a little this weekend.  Temps down into the 80s and maybe some cool rain showers on Saturday.  Forecast - Click Here
   That is good news as there is are some great prone matches to shoot just a few miles south of the Cities at the NorthStar Gun Club.  That's right, it's nice easy belly matches all weekend.
   NorthStar is the host for the Mid Range Prone Regional Championship. Saturday, July 23rd, It will be Iron sights all day, with competitors firing 20 shots for record and two sighters at 300, 500 and 600 yds in individual matches.  Saturdays matches will be  followed by NorthStar's annual Barbeque and usual socializing.  RSVP for this after match picnic please to let the cook know how much food to get ready.  Call Bob at (507)744-5200 or E-mail to dilligas@means.net
   Sunday, July 24, the matches allow  "Any Sights" to be used, so all you scope shooters can get out there and not have to worry about those pesky things like "sight alignment", while plastering that 10 and X ring.  The format is the same for both days -- 2 sighters and 20 shots for record at the 3 mid range distances.   Click Here for Match Bulletin  Bring plenty of Water !
F-class questions - Please contact F class chairman Ben Winget with F class questions.
bwinget1@earthlink.net
   July 23-24 The Grand Forks Rifle Club is having their North Dakota State Championship and Leg matches. 

Last Weekend
The heat and multiple area matches to choose from kept the numbers of shooters down at the Over the Course matches held at GRRC on this past Sunday,   It looks like Larry Weidel is really hitting his peak form just at the right time. Larry won this match with an excellent score of 773-15x with his service rifle.   Larry has taken over as Captain of the MN Service rifle team, soon leaving for Camp Perry, Ohio and the National championships.

FINAL RESULTS NRA MATCH GRRC JUNE 17, 2011 WITH 8 SHOOTERS
			Stand	Sit RF	300 RF	600 SF	SF agg	RF agg	AGG
	CLA	CAT	MA 1	MA 2	MA 3	MA 4	MA 5	MA 6	AGG
MATCH WINNER			5.00	5.00	5.00	5.00	5.00	5.00	5.00
L. Weidel	M		190.01	192.03	195.04	196.07	386.08	387.07	773.15
T. Hendrickson	MU		169.00	192.05	186.03	169.04	338.04	378.08	716.12
K. Moline	EX		172.02	189.02	171.01	183.03	355.05	360.03	715.08
T. Torborg	EX		180.03	191.03	185.03	177.02	357.05	376.06	733.11
B. Datemd	MU		123.00	182.00	177.00	181.02	304.02	359.00	663.02
G. Mc Carty	EX		179.01	198.07	196.04	181.01	360.02	394.11	185.03
M. Schoess	EX		178.04	194.03	198.04	168.00	346.04	392.07	738.11
D. Gillette	EX		185.03	184.03	189.04	177.02	362.05	373.07	735.12

Also Last Weekend was the Annual Pig Roast Matches put on by the Eau Claire rifle club. 
It looks like the Minnesota guys took the lead this past weekend at the pig matches, with Kevin Bangen back to his championship form, and winning these matches, and Mn's Omer Hamer taking 2nd place.  Kevin fired an awesome score of 495 on Saturday, and then backed up with the match winning score of 785 on Sunday.  Kevin didn't have it all his own way on Sunday though, as Randy Gregory was never more than a few pts  back and finished with an excellent score of 781 and a 2nd place.
                       
From Kevin Bangen:

Pig match results - click to expand

"The matches all went well, they run a good match over there and the barbeque on Saturday night was great.  The heat was certainly a factor for both days and by the time we shot 600 yards on Sunday I think everyone had enough  "fun" for the day, that heat just pulled the energy right out of everyone." 

 Kevin

Also Last Weekend

Mpls Rifle Club - 7/17/2011

Mpls Rifle Club's monthly 1600 prone Sm Bore matches saw a new winner this weekend.  Stacey Tamulinas, a High Master prone  

highpower shooter, used his brand new and self installed barrel on his 2013 Anchutz to fire a match winning 1593-102x.
  Stacey needed everyone of those 1593 points, as he just barley out scored 2nd place shooter, Emily Quinar, by one point over the day. Emily, a member of the Murrey State Racer Rifles collegiate team, did fire more Xs than Stacey, but it's points that count in this game, not Xs .
        Click here for complete results

NOTES:
Small bore:
Minnesota State Sm Bore 4P Regional Champ Results from July 3-4  -- Results click here
Congratulations to Alex Geisar as the new 4P Reg. champ. Alex fired a 3120-132x to win this match, with Nick Learn coming in 2nd place with his 3048-78x score.

Highpower:

We (the MN St. Team) Need You!

From Erick Rhode:

 "I don't know if this is something that you'd want to mention in your shooter's e-mails or not, but we are looking for another shooter to fill out a MN State team at Camp Perry for NRA week. We currently have Kevin Bangen, Mark Rohmann and myself shooting. Phil Klanderud was on board but had to cancel on short notice due to scheduling at work. We are not terribly concerned with skill level, we just want to be able to shoot the match with a MN team. Mark and I are riding out together in my truck and I think that with careful packing we could even get a 3rd guy in for the trip and split gas and driving 3 ways. We also have a 4-bunk room reserved in the new barracks building on post with currently 2 open beds. Cost is $44 per night for the whole room so $15 a night with 3 people or $11 with 4. If someone really wanted to save money they could eat 2 meals a day at the mess hall for $11/day. Biggest expense a guy would have for the trip would be match fees and however much cash vendor's row can suck out of the wallet. We are leaving Saturday night 8/6 to arrive on post Sunday morning. Will probably be driving home the following Saturday. It's short notice, but I figure it is worth a shot to maybe scare someone up that's been on the fence about going and has a somewhat flexible schedule. If you know anyone who might be interested in coming out, please pass along my contact info. If you could put it into you next e-mail to the gang it'd be very much appreciated. Heck, maybe you want to come along - we could always use a Jarhead on the squad! Thanks,"

 Erik Rhode erhode_1@charter.net 612-790-5076

If you are a highpower shooter and have never been to the Camp Perry Nationals -- this is your big chance.  Everything is figured out for you!  Every shooter should go to Camp Perry at least once  It is a great experience!  Make the decision today and do it. 

From: Capt. Bob ---  Rifles for sale: 

Hello prone shooters: 

A good friend has some rotator cuff issues and would like to sell 3 beautiful prone rifles as per attached letter.  His email & phone # are included so contact him direct for further information.
Click Here for List w/prices
  

If you are shooting the MRP regional at Red Wing this coming weekend bring a cooler full of bottled water. It's still looking to be in the high 80's and humid.  The club will also supply bottled water but bring your own just in case. 

HOLDHARD,          

Bob                        

Two Weeks Out
July 30-31   Mn Long range and Palma St. Champs at GRRC -   Program Click Here   

That's all folks! 

 

MN Smallbore 3 Position and 4 Position State Championship – July 9 and 10, 2011

We had two good matches this past weekend.  During the first stage of Saturday's prone shooting there was a heavy rain.  But, by the end of the second stage, the rain had stopped and conditions remained good for the remainder of the day.  Sunday was perfect for shooting.

Larry Sawyer was the 4-P State Champion on Saturday and Alex Giesar was the top junior shooter.  On Sunday, Larry Sawyer was the 3-P State Champion and Carmen Fry out shot all the other juniors for the Junior State Championship.  Jonell Sawyer was the high woman shooter on both days.

Nick Learn, a sub junior from South Range, Wisconsin established a new National record in Saturday's 4-P match with a score of 1531-36X.

We had fourteen shooters each day.  Nine of them were junior shooters who represented the State of Minnesota and the shooting sports with great skill and poise.  I hope they can all make it back for the State Prone Match on August 27 & 28, 2011.

Bob Belluzzo, Hibbing Rifle and Pistol Club 

Shooters News for the MN area - The Week ahead - 7/13/11

The Week ahead  
There is lots of matches coming up this weekend.  There is something on the schedule for Prone shooters and more than one match for OTC competitors.     

Prone shooters can hone their skills in the 160 shot Outdoor Conventional Prone Sm bore match that will be contested at the Mpls. Rifle Club Sunday July 17th. Bring about 5 boxes of Wolf target .22, your Sm bore rifle and have some fun. F-class and Senior scope shooters are always invited.  Targets to be shot at 50 yds,  50m, and 100 yds.   Click Here for match program

Over the Course Highpower shooters have the choice of 4 matches to attend.

On Saturday July 16th the MN Service Rifle team will be holding a practice at GRRC.  Although Team Capt. Kurt Borlaug is down and out with illness for a while, Larry Weidell has stepped up to the plate and will run this practice session and is taking over as Team Capt. untill Kurt is 'up and at-em' again. 

From Team Capt. Larry W   
"Fellow shooters: 

   Thanks for the opportunity.  I hope I can do as well as Kurt. 

Practice is a go for Saturday morning just as Kurt was planning it.  In my discussions with him the plan was to shoot a quick 50 shot match with two relays followed by some NTIT.  What I would like to do for NTIT practice is to start at 600, shot three sighters, two strings of 3 shots followed by a 50 second exposure where you can shoot as much as you want.  The focus is on hits so concept is to only shoot good shots.  Example, if you can only shoot ten good shots but hey are all hits, that's a squared target and an acceptable hit count.  The fifteen or so rounds that you didn't shoot are carried forward for more points as we move closer. And if things go well you can shoot 25-30 and run out at the same time the targets go down.  After 600 we move to 500, two sighters and a fifty round exposure.  A full load doesn't need to be fired.  Ammo should be split between two mags if you plan to reload so you can practice the reload under pressure.

  The other thing I would like to firm up is the travels plans/car pooling, housing, make up of teams, and a Q/A for the guys who haven't been to Perry yet?  We have three open beds at the house that we are still looking to fill. 

Hold Hard,"    Larry

It's a long ways with iron sights to that 10 inch Ten ring !

If any Service Rifle shooter is interested in shooting with the Service Rifle Team,  attend this practice and start training with the team. New shooters are always wanted on the team.  

Sunday, July 17 GRRC is hosting an 80 shot OTC match for those who are not attending the Pig matches in Eau Claire.  I was up at
GRRC yesterday and that range is in great shape for this match. Most of the debris  from last weeks damaging wind storm has been cleaned up with only one large tree near the 200 yd line to be turned into fire wood.  The weeds are mowed, the targets all refaced, so come on out, as this should be a good fun match and just a few miles north of the cities !   Match program - Click here

The Pig Matches -- Yes, its time again for the Pig matches.  Eau Claire Rifle Club's annual shooting and eating extravaganza will be once again on the agenda for area OTC shooters this coming weekend.  Over the years these matches have been the seasons "go-to" matches.  There will be a 50 shot OTC on Saturday July 16,, followed by the usual fantastic Pig roast and social get together.  Sunday, July 17th, there will be an 80 shot OTC match.  I think you even get a T-shirt  to show you survived another Pig Match!    
        Pig match - Click Here

It is forecast to be hot and humid this weekend with temps hitting 90 deg F.  Preparing properly to shoot in the heat will gain you points over your competitors. 

Tips for Shooting in the Heat -  Be prepared!
1.  Pre hydrate yourself by drinking Gatorade starting before the first match of the day and keep drinking all day.  2 qts or more during the day is not too much.
2.  Wear a moisture wicking t-shirt,  a lighter wt. sweat shirt than normal,  and lightweight loose pants. 
3.  If shooting in the sun, wear white painters bib overalls, and white tops.  Bibs are loose, and light weight.  Be sure to have a wide brim hat -  a straw hat would be great. 
4. Drink more Gatorade 
     From: Tom Torberg
Jim,   You bring up a good point.  They are predicting a high of 95 on Sunday so please everybody bring lots of water!   

Last Weekend 

Although it was forecast for thunderstorms up at NWGC ,  the State Champ OTC matches saw a warm and sunny day for the Individual matches that I attended on Sunday.  Fact is, it was hot, and humid Sunday morning when I was prepared for a cool and rainy day. 
It was pretty much a full line on Sunday and that was good to see.  Everyone knows the NWGC puts on good matches and that's why their events are so popular.  A couple of old friends came down from North Dakota who we haven't seen for a while.  Danny Markle, past All Guard shooter, and Denny Coulter came to participate. 
  Everybody sweated at the 200 yd line.  During the Standing match and scores suffered because of it.  By the 2nd relay the sun was really bearing down. I shot fast for the first ten shots and it went way better than I expected (94-4x), but then about the 11th shot I felt over heated and had to stop for a while and when I started to go again an 87-1x was the best I could do -- so 19pts down after only one match. 

Steve Erickson, Jim Biles, and Omer Hamer

Steve Erickson did not let the heat bother him as he fired a match winning 191-4x to beat Kevin Bangen's 189 and go into the Sitting rapid fire match a couple pts. up on the field.

    In the Sitting Rapid fire Match, Larry Miller shot only one nine on the first string and then came back to shoot clean on the 2nd string 10 shot and post a 199 score.  That was a great score but not good enough to win as Jim Biles worked the bolt and shot all tens and Xs to take the Sitting Rapid fire trophy with a 200-8x. Erick Rhode took a well deserved 3rd in this match with his 197 score.

Larry Miller and Jim Biles shoot clean

   It got a little less humid after the first relay at the 300 yd line, so the Prone Rapid fire match was a little more fun for me but I shot a slightly bigger than 10 ring size group and posted only a 195.  Steve Erickson applied his long honed prone shooting skills and held hard  for a 199-6x with everybody else dropping 3 or more pts in this match.  Dale Wickstrom came close with his 197-4x and just out Xing Omer Hamer for 2nd place.  SSgt Al Schneider firing a service rifle and Erick Rhode won their classes by shooting 195 scores in this match. 
    At the 500 yd line for the final match -  20 shots prone slow fire - the conditions were good except for some shadows on the targets, and all the heavy hitters assumed it would take a 200 to win this match.  The mirage was good for reading the wind and the flag at the 300 yd line was the one to read for wind adjustments.  As it turned out, no one fired a 200 to nail the lid shut on this match, and no one fired a 199 either.  However, 5 shooters from the Ex class to the HM class did fire identical 198s and the match would be decided on Xs with Steve Erickson (11x)  taking the win and his 3rd match trophy of the day.  2nd through 4 place were not so easy to decide as Stave Hays, Dale Wickstrom, and Kevin Bangen all fired the same 198-9x. Placement would be made be made on Creedmoore tie breaking rules--who shot the last X.     It didn't matter as they didn't get the trophy.
 
Steve Erickson is the 2011 Mn State NRA Champion.  He won three of the day's four matches and the trophys that go with those wins while shooting a 784-24 for the overall win. 

  Kevin Bangen - 2nd -  779-23x

  Jim Biles         - 3rd  -  773-19x --- Senior Champ and Sitting Rapid fire St. Champ
 Omer Hamer             -  772-14x --- Grand Senior Champ           


Highpower Notes:

  From Capt Bob: 
MRP shooters:

Attached is your program for the regional at North Star July 23-24.  PUH-LEESE note the part near the middle regarding the cook out on Sat. after shooting.  I need a body count for proper food order by NOON Thurs. July 21. Chef Mike May will be head cook once again.

 YOU MUST REPLY TO THIS EMAIL WITH YOUR INTENT TO EAT....

or ELSE GO HUNGRY!

I'm out of town July 12 thru 17 but will probably have email access in the evenings.  For planning purposes you may shoot one day only for $20.00 and you may shoot a different rifle on Sunday.

HOLDHARD,   Bob

More from Capt Bob:     
It's come to my attention there is at least 1 FUBAR in the MRP regional program.  Under INDIVIDUAL MATCH SATURDAY it says for 600 yards "2 SS 15 20". That should say "2 SS & 20 for record."  All 3 yard lines will be 2 SS & 20 both days. Corrected program attached.

 Bob                    Match program for Mid Range Prone State champ match  --   Click Here     

Small Bore Notes:
   The State 4P champs were held at Hibbing last weekend -- no news.
   The Summer Offhand League held monthly at MRC is cancelled
  
   From Chad Danielson:
                          "2011 Minnesota Smallbore Prone Season Aggregate Championship Standings after 3 Matches"
   After the June 19^th 1600 match at MRC, Jim Biles of Duluth currently leads the season standings with a 6317-323X after the 3^rd match of the season of the 8 being taken for point accumulation.  Junior Shooter Eric Hazelton holds a very close 2^nd overall with a 6296-282X, only 21 points behind Biles. Hazelton currently holds the top Junior position with that score. Jim Evenson currently holds 3^rd overall with a 6091-325X.  Biles, Hazelton, and Evenson are the only three shooters to have made a showing at all of the first three matches , putting them in their respective positions, with the rest of the field having 1 or 2 matches shot. With five Smallbore Prone matches left on the schedule, the next match is scheduled for Sunday July 17, for a 1600 at MRC, which will definitely make for an opportunity for scores between shooters to tighten up, and shooters the opportunity to better their standing. Below are the current top 10 shooters as scores stand before going into the July 17^th match.  
1. Jim Biles                 6317 – 323         2. Eric Hazelton (Jr.)  6296 – 282           
3. Jim Evenson          6091 – 325           4. Morgan Dietrich    4752 – 294         
5. Steve Knutson       4710 – 260           6. Chad Danielson     4701 – 210           
7. Alex Giesar (Jr.)     4691 – 229           8. Lori Huseby (Jr.)    4650 – 171         
9.  Nick Learn (Jr.)    4641 – 180            10. Julie Huseby        4614 – 142

Two Weeks out 
July 23-24     North Dakota State Champ and Leg - Grand Forks
July 23-24     Mid Range Prone State champ match Northstar --  Match program   Click Here  

July 30-31     LR champ matches at GRRC --  Match program   Click Here

That's All Folks !
Hawkeye