Shooters News for the Minn Area - Sept 16th - 2014

Next Weekend
Beautiful fall days continue to present great shooting opportunities, and this weekend is no exception. Prone shooters have two great matches to choose from -- one on the North end of town and one just a few miles south of town.  That's right both matches are nearby the Twin Cities and easy to get to,  come on out and pull some triggers.

Highpower  
Capt. Bob and the crew are getting ready for two days of Mid Range match competition at the NorthStar Rifle Club just down the road (Hwy 61) on the way to Red Wing, MN. Both days offer matches for Sling and F-class shooters to try their skill hitting the middle the target in 300yd to 600 yd matches. Saturday Sept 20, the competitors will start off at the 300 yd line for the first 20 shot match and then move back to the 500yd line and the 600 yd line for the next three 20 shot matches. Traditional Sling shooters will use "Iron sights" in the first 3 matches and then switch to "any sights" for the last 600yd match if they choose.  On Sunday Sept 21, all four 20 shot matches will be fired from the 600 yd line, with two matches being Iron sight matches for the Sling shooters and two matches allowing the use of 'any' sights.  NorthStar is such a nice place to shoot a match, I am definitely planning to get down there on Sat to exercise my 6mBR and launch a few Berger 105gn Hybrids down range. Maybe a few will hit the 10 ring?
       Click Here for match Bulletin   

Small Bore
On Sunday, Sept 21 Elk River Sportsmen's Club , a few miles up Hwy 10, NW of the cities, will host the final Outdoor Conventional Prone Sm Bore match of the season.  This will be a standard '1600' course of fire, with shooters firing four 40 shot prone matches (8 targets of 20) at distances from 50 yds to 100 yds.

ERSC Ed Hassig SB Range

This sounds like a long match, but remember there is no Pit pulling, or changing of yard lines, so these matches take about the same amount of time as a Highpower match, or maybe even a little less. 
I'll be heading to this match on Sunday. I really like shooting at the Ed Hassig Sm Bore range (ERSC).  You shoot off a nice grass firing line under the shade of a row of mature Oak trees.  It's a nice place to spend the day prone shooting.  Chris Hazleton is runing this match so it's sure to be a good one.
   Click Here for match Bulletin 

Last Weekend 
OTC Match at GRRC last Saturday -- no news  
300 Meter  International Match  at MRC last Sunday  -- no news 

Full bore Match at GRRC last Sunday 

From Erik Rhode 
Hi Jim,
 The 2014 Fullbore 1-day is in the history books. Attendance was light, with 5 sling shooters and 2 F-Classers making the drive to Harris to shoot the match. I was one of those 5 sling shooters, with the other 4 being comprised of brave gunslingers from the Northwestern Gun Club in Duluth.
      It was a beautiful day to shoot - cool, breezy and sunny. It was one of those days when you could keep your shooting sweater on all day, and one of the F-class guys even told me that for once he didn’t feel sorry for us in laying in the sun all day in our leather coats! The wind was manageable, coming pretty steadily from the west and maxed out at about 5 minutes on the ol’ windage knob at the 1000 yard line if you were shooting 155’s. There were some light pick-ups and let-offs that kept things interesting for everyone.
     It was a good day to get solid zero’s and everybody had a good time. A few valuable lessons were learned: we were reminded of the importance of knowing your zero’s before starting to shoot, and we learned that 80 SMK’s pushed by 23.5 grains of Re-15 are pretty quiet by the time they get to 1000 yards. At the end of the day, I finished with the top score. 
     Special thanks to John Peters for stepping up and running the match on extremely short notice. I have shot 3 Long Range matches this season at GRRC, and John was working at all 3 of them. As we all know, at most gun clubs, 10% of the membership does 90% of the work. John is definitely in that 10% at Gopher. 2014 has been a transitional year for GRRC, and John has stepped up many times to fill in the gaps. Keep up the good work, John! Guys like you keep this sport in business. 
    There is one more Fullbore weekend on the schedule at GRRC the first weekend of October, and I would encourage everyone to come out and give it a try. There aren’t many match opportunities left, and there aren’t many opportunities ever to shoot at 300, 600, 900, and 1000 yards all in one day. Since it’s a 2-day match, it is enough to get a Fullbore classification from the NRA, if you are interested in collecting one more card for your wallet. 
    NRA Fullbore rules require shooters to use a .308 or .223 rifle with bullets under 156 and 81 grains respectively, but there was some discussion to allow an “open" class at the October match. I think this is a good idea, and would encourage more participation. Shooters using other calibers/weights wouldn’t be eligible for match wins or classification, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had. Hope to see some more of you next time! PS - No F-Class results. The 2 f-class shooters just shot for fun and did not turn in score cards.   
 Best regards, Erik Rhode

   Good Idea on that open class, Erik.  Matches need to be inclusive not exclusive.

 Two Weeks Out    
Sept 27 -  Mid Range Prone at Eau Claire - Match program click here
Sept 28 -  80 shot OTC at Eau Claire - Match program click here 
Oct 4,5  -  Full Bore long range at GRRC-- Click here for Match bulliten

Note:  I am going out of town next week and "Shooters News for the Minn" Area may not be published for a while. Shoot good have fun. 

That's all Folks
Hawkeye

Shooters News for the Minn Area - Sept 9, 2014

Extra!  See below for Picts and Video from EIC Leg Match 

Next Weekend       
 Highpower
Over the Course shooters will be on the firing line at Gopher Rifle and Revolver Club this coming Saturday, Sept,13th.  The Guys at GRRC have been working hard to get the range ready for one of the last OTC matches of the year.  The weather forecast now is for clear skies and sunshine, so dig out that match rifle or service rifle and and head to GRRC. If you miss this OTC match, your only other chance this season will be Sept 28 at Eau Claire.               Click here for Match Bulletin

Note: The 1000pt OTC match scheduled for Sept. 13th at MRC is Cancelled
Note:  The Offhand St. Champ match scheduled for Sept. 14th at MRC is rescheduled to Oct. 11th.

Long Range 
Gopher Rifle and Revolver Club will be the scene for a long Range "Full Bore" match this Sunday, Sept 14.    This is a prone match for both Sling and F-class shooters. This match has a few special rules so read the Program.  Shooters will go to the line first at 300 yds for the first 15 shot match, and then the 3 following matches will be fired at the 600, 900, and 1000yd lines -- 15 shots for record plus sighters.
  This is a great match for shooters to get any newer rifles sighted in for Long Range, since you start at the 300 yd line and work back to 1000yds. This is also a great match for the newer shooter that would like to try some long range shooting because of the short range warm up matches.  Give it a try!
              Click here for Match bulletin

300 Meter International  
Mpls Rifle Club will host it's September 300 meter match on Sept 14th
     "Because of increased interest, all matches will be squadded in advance via email.
To reserve a space in the next match email Brian Shifftman at: "

Last Weekend  

From: Erik Rhode    

2014 MN Mid-Range Prone State Championship
Northwestern Gun Club

Duluth, MN

The annual State Championship match for Mid Range prone specialists was held last weekend on the scenic shores of Hunter Lake near Duluth, MN.  The Range was in beautiful shape, the weather was picture perfect, and the competition was top-notch.

The schedule of events promised an 80-shot, 4-man team championship match on Saturday, all fired from NWGC’s 500-yard line.  Being a late-season match, it was somewhat hard to get teams together, but 5 managed to show up to battle it out for the title.  Due to logistical difficulties, only host the host club managed to put together an official club team, and I believe they actually fielded 2 full squads.  My Northstar Rifle Club could only manage to find 3 shooters, so I ended up shooting with 3 other scrubs on an out-of-competition team.   Likewise, MRC was a man short, so they added the always solid utility-man Leo Huhta from ERSC to fill out their roster.

Conditions were just about perfect, with sunny skies, low humidity and a slight breeze keeping the flags twitching.  I didn’t pay too close attention to the details of the winds on Saturday, (hey, it was a team match, that’s the coach’s problem!) but I don’t think I ever saw more than ¾ dialed on my windage knob.  As the day shook out, the final results looked something like this: 

2014 MRP Team State Champions 
Northwestern Gun Club Gold, team score of 3118-95x 

Firing members: -  
 "Diamond” Dave Salo  
 “Magic” Mike Theis 
 Elliot “The Serbian Sensation” Zunich   
 Eric “Heartbreaker” Hartley 

 

1^st place team  
The Dawgs, team score of 3151-138x 
Firing members:  
Mark “Rottweiler” Rohmann   
 Phil “ The Klandyman” Klanderud  
 Eric “Purple Haze” Hazelton  
 Leo “Hound Dog” Huhta

Match Winner

US National Rifle Team Blue, team score of 3187-188x 

Coach:

John “Lumpy” Lumberg

Firing members:

-          Stacy “The Surgeon” Tamulinas

-          “Sexy” Steve Knutson

-          Brian “Short Pants” Mrnak

-          “Reasonably Competent” Erik Rhode

Next, it was on to Sunday’s matches.  Conditions were almost identical to the day before as shooters started showing up for their squadding assignments at the 200-yard shack.  26 shooters were on hand for another 80 shots from the 500-yard line.  Conditions were excellent all day, with sunny skies and a light fishtailing tailwind that was pretty easy to keep up with.  In the combined Sharpshooter/Expert/Master Class, Big Bob Woods and Bruce “Raw Deal” Rawlings each took a class win in matches 3 and 4, but it was notorious sandbagger Lil’ Dickie VanValkenburg who cleaned up again.  With class wins in matches 1 and 2, and the top daily agg in the combined group, I think Dickie has finally worn out his welcome in the Expert Class.  His 789 last weekend at Eau Claire, and his 783-28x on Sunday should land him squarely in the Master class where he belongs.  Wait by your mailbox Dick, the NRA will be along shortly with a new card.

As is often the case in prone matches, competition was fierce at the top with 14 High Masters present out of the 26 total shooters.  Quite a few 200’s were turned in along with some high X-count 198’s and 199’s.  Last year’s state champ, “Sexy” Steve Knutson and Mighty Morgen Dietrich (isn’t this guy still a junior?!?) both shot clean the first 2 matches, and were tied at 400-21x going into match #3.  Morgen displayed nerves of steel in match #3 and posted a 200-13x to stay perfect for the day and pull away from Newt.  Stacy “The Surgeon” Tamulinas reminded us that he was still around by posting the top score of the day with his 200-16x in match 3.  With this impressive score he cruised right past Steve and slid into 2^nd place, only a single point away from Morgen.   The State Championship would come down to match #4, and the title was Morgen’s to lose.  If he stayed clean, no one could catch him.  If he dropped even a single point, he would be within striking distance of the Surgeon and his monstrous X-count.  Morgen stacked up 15 X’s and 4 10’s in his first 19 shots in match 4, but on the last shot of the day he finally let one get away.   A 799 is a great score no matter who you are, but would it be enough today with Stacy hot on his heels?    As it turned out, Stacy also lost one in match #4, and Morgen’s 799-49x squeaked past Stacy’s 798-51x.  Looks like the MRP trophy and matching plaque will spend the next year in Olivia, MN next to the MN State Long Range trophy.  Congrats to Morgen on the win and another great season. 

I think it’s safe to say everyone involved had a good time, and it’s perfect weekends like this that really make it hard to face the end of another shooting season.  These are the kind of matches that I will be thinking about all winter, as I stare out the window at the growing snow drifts for hours at a time, with tears welling up in my eyes.  Thanks to Jim Fernandez and the rest of the gang at NWGC for being great hosts as usual, and for running an excellent match. 

Hope to see everyone again at one of the few remaining matches left on the calendar.  Get out and shoot while you can, because pretty soon you’ll be wishing you even had the option!

Best regards,

Erik Rhode

 
Thanks Erik for that report.  Sounds like you all had a good match 

Leg Match at GRRC
Another Great Match!!
Twenty six service rifle shooters came together at GRRC Saturday Sept 6, to compete for "Leg Points" ---  If you ever earn enough leg points in your shooting career, you will earn the title of Distinguished Rifleman from the CMP.  Eight Leg points were on the line for the winner, and 6 pts would be awarded to 2nd place  -- Third place would be 1st "loser"(known as 1st leather).  It's all or nothing in a Leg Match and there are no sighter shots.  There are no 'sighters' in combat, and there are no sighters at a Leg Match. -- Good luck!
The weather was PERFECT-- high 60s and there was very little wind to plague the shooters in the offhand position or at the 600 yd line

   ***Click Here for Slide Show and Video of this Leg Match 

                   And the Winners were:
                                                                          photo by Mark Havlik

Congratulations to Dave Holtegaard for winning his 8 pt leg.  Dave is rising fast to the top of competitive service rifle shooting in this area. Congrats also to Matt Cwach who is following in his fathers footsteps and now is only a few pts away from "going out" and ready to earn his Distinguished badge in the near future. Larry Weidell earns another silver medal -- how many of those have you got now, Larry?   Dean Gillette's "1st Leather" near miss is his third 1st leather in a row -- Dean you are really earning your way here.  Your luck will change soon.


Two Weeks Out
Sept 20, 21 - Two day Mid Range prone and Fclass at Northstar - Click here for match Bulletin
Sept 21      - Sm Bore Outdoor Prone 1600 at Elk River -  No match bulletin available

That's All Folks
Hawkeye

Shooters News for the Minn Area - Sept 3, 2014

Fall Matches are starting - That means cooler weather and more comfortable shooting!

Next Weekend    
Labor Day has come and gone, but there are still 3 weeks till the official start of fall. It's not time to put those match rifles into hibernation yet!  This coming weekend offers the competition shooter two excellent Highpower matches to choose from. Service Rifle shooters will have the opportunity to try once more to earn a "leg" and advance their quest for that elusive 'Distinguished Rifleman's Badge".  Gopher Rifle and Revolver Club will be the scene of the Minn area's last "Leg" match of the year on Saturday Sept 6, 2014. These are 50 shot Over the Course matches where shooters compete at distances of 200 to 600 yds with basic service rifles using battle sights.  The first 3 matches are shot at 200 and 300 yds using the offhand position for 10 shots, then follows rapid fire matches from the prone and sitting position.  The last phase of this 'Excellence in Competition" match will be 20 shots prone from the 600 yd line. The top ten percent of competitors will win some leg points, and be on their way to earning that Distinguished badge.  Good luck guys!   Click Here for Match bulletin

Prone shooters will be heading to the Northwestern Gun Club for the "9/11" matches and two days of hard fought traditional sling shooting competition.   Saturday, Sept 6 shooters will form up teams to shoot four 20 shot matches per team shooter. Two matches will be fired with 'Iron' sights and two with 'Any' sights. The winners will be crowned with the State Team Championship.  On Sunday, Sept 7th it will be every man/woman for themselves, as competitors will be shooting for individual St Championship honors.  All matches will be shot from the NWGC's well manicured 500 yd line along the shores of Hunter Lake.     Click Here for Match bulletin

From: Capt. Bob

​Hello MRP shooters:

Attached you will find 2 programs for the Iowa MRP sling and F class championship tournaments in Des Moines.  ​They have a dandy range and there are a couple motels within 10 miles.

HOLDHARD,

Bob        Click Here for Sept 13, Mid Range prone match bulletin.   Click here for Sept 14 F-class match bulletin    

Notes: 1.The 1000 pt OTC match scheduled for Sept 13th at  Mpls Rifle Club is Cancelled
         2. The Off Hand championship match scheduled for Sept 14th has been rescheduled to Oct 11 at MRC  

 300 meter International

  from: Brian Shiffman 
The September 300 meter match (at MRC) will be on Sunday the 21^st.  Registration will be open beginning September 1.      Registration web page is http://edfpages.com/mgfc/match.php    
Brian D. Shiffman  shiff004@umn.edu

Last Weekend   
Eau Claire Matches -- Results in from Jim Milville of ECNRC
 

OTC Match scores  



Click Here for Mid-range match results

 

F-class State Championship  

   From Scott Olson  Pres. ERSC  

Hi Jim,

The dust has settled another fantastic mid range F-class state championship match here at the Elk River Sportsman's Club. The state championship matches started off with Saturday's team matches. 34 shooters competed in the 240 shot aggregate team matches. On the F-Open side, The X Men comprised of Rick Sievers, Mike Jones, John Rykhus and Chris Longley took the state trophy with a score of 2380-127X. On the F-TR side, Team Hig comprised of Ed Higgins, Nick Larson, Greg Siefert and Robert White had a score of 2293-56X. Mike Lehmeier had the high individual score in F-TR with 587-25X. Ben Winget had the high individual score in F-Open with 600-32X. 
It is interesting to note that while Ben took the aggregate, his individual scores won him a fourth place (200-10X) and two thirds (200-11X, 200-11X). That is how good the scores were Saturday! 
 
Sunday's conditions for the indiviual championship were much tougher with gusting winds out of the east. Just when a shooter thought they had a handle on the wind, it would switch to the south and move the shot out the the one MOA ten ring. Temps were near 90* and the humidity was high. 80 shots became an endurance challenge. Hard holding Mike Lehmeier took the honors at F-TR Mid-Range Champion with a score of 784-31X after winning the first three matches and placing second in the fourth. Mike Lehmeier is both the 2014 Long Range and  Mid-Range F-TR champion.  
The F-Open championship was hotly contested by several shooters and wasn't decided until the last score sheet was turned in. Lisa Olson won the first match of the day with a 199-11X with three other shooters falling one X behind. Lisa slipped out of the the lead after the second match with a third place score of 199-10X, her aggregate staying one X ahead of Greg Whalstrom, but one X behind Mike Jones and his 199-14X. Lisa tied winning the third match the day of with junior Tyson Brabec, both scoring 199-10X. Having only dropped three points after three matches, Lisa took the lead with John Rykhus and Mike Jones both one point behind. Pat Scully loomed ominously two points back, quietly waiting to make his move. The fourth match of the day found the winds picking up, mirage came and went and kept the top shooters working hard. When the score sheets were turned in, Lisa had finished with a 197-13X and was holding onto the aggregate lead with a 794-44X, five X's ahead of John Rykhus and his 794-39X. Pat Scully turned in a 198-11 to fall one point and two X's behind Lisa.

Several other shooters turned in great scores for the fourth match but they couldn't catch Lisa's aggregate until 2014 LR champion Mike Jones handed me his score card for the fourth match. Mike had shot a 200-9X giving him an aggregate of 795-42X beating Lisa's 794-44X by one point for the 2014 F-Open Championship!

Lisa was second to Ben Winget in 2013, and now was second by one point in 2014. She wants everyone to know she doesn't like losing so watch out in 2015. Mike Jones is both the 2014 Long Range and Mid-Range F-Open champion.

Congratulations to all the shooters who competed in the long two day match. We were hoping to put our new expanded pits into use but the weather forecast kept a few shooters away. ERSC has expanded the pits to 25 carriers with plans to add 2 more in 2015. This would give a 3 relay match capacity of 75 shooters and, God forbid, a 4 relay capacity of 100 shooters. At the rate F-Class is growing, it won't be long! Heading to Alaska, see you all in October.    
Scott Olson, President Elk River Sportsman's Club

Thanks Scott for that report.  The way you guys and gals were shooting at this match, I suspect some of those X-ringers will be heading out the to F Nationals in Phoenix end of Oct. If not they should be!  Click here and here for F-Nats match bulletin  
 

Note:

Those of you who identified the "mystery guest" at last weeks Sm bore match as Dave Gross got it correct.  

Two Weeks Out
Sept  13 - Highpower OTC match at GRRC -- no program available 
Sept 14 -  Full bore prone and F-class at GRRC - no program available  
Sept 21 - Outdoor Prone Sm Bore 1600 at Elk River - no program available

That's All Folks
Hawkeye