The Shooting Sports: A discussion on the various shooting disciplines with AZ_HighCountry

[AZ_HighCountry]

The Ruger 10/22 is an absolute legend. High quality, low cost, extremely popular.

Ruger is also "local" to me. They have a factory in Prescott, AZ.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

A recent addition to assist with my shooting is one of these:

ShotMarker

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Yes, a somewhat expensive but very beneficial tool. Ideal for training, matches, etc. I will have a separate writeup on the system. It is also starting to see use within the US military. The Navy used the system for the recent All-Navy and PacFleet Matches on board USMCB Camp Pendleton.

A sample of the data output:



This is actual data for a rapid fire string in the prone position. The time limit is 70 seconds for 10 shots for record. As you can see, the string was fired in 33 seconds. Had I slowed down, the score likely would have improved as well as having some in the X-ring. Note not a single X.

Oh, the target was the SR-42, which is the 300 yard target reduced to be dimensionally / optically correct at 200 yards.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

Now here is one where I HAVE to shoot fast and ONLY hits count. Again, the target is the NATO E-type reduced for firing at 200 yards instead of 600. Time limit of 50 seconds:



25 hits in 43 seconds. Which is good for 3 reasons:

1. Make sure I get hits
2. Use a 30 round magazine for the actual match - too much time wasted doing a magazine change
3. With 7 seconds left, I could have fired an additional 3-4 rounds.

Do that at Perry at both 600 and 500, as an individual, that will be 175 points alone not including any bonus at each stage. The remaining 14 rounds (each shooter is issued 64 rounds total) will go to 300 and that will be good for 28 points.

In theory, if the other 5 members of the team do that, as a team we will finish with 1410 points which includes the applicable bonuses for squaring all the targets. That is a winning score or close to it.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

The MR-63 target. Am planning to go out to the "spot" tomorrow to get some 600 yard practice in but at 300 yards.



The target shown is reduced in scale to simulate the 600 yard target when seen from 300 yards. It is optically correct as are the scoring ring spacing. This will be perfect for tomorrow as:

1. I've not yet checked to see if a standard target at 600 yards will be visible from the shooting spot.
2. This will still allow me to focus on hold while also dealing with any wind that may be present. Shooting with lighter bullets will help in that regard.

As long as I manage the wind (which I am good at), and hold 10 ring or better on the reduced target, I will be able to do the same on the standard target at 600 when we're at Perry. To make the cut at Perry, depending on the match, I need to fire either a 95 or higher or 190 or higher. P100 I will absolutely have to be at 95 or higher in order to make the cut.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

So, a question some of you may be thinking: "why practice at shorter ranges? Why not practice at actual distance?"

Those are some good questions for which there are many answers. In some locations, we don't have the luxury of distance. If we can find a spot that goes out to a couple or 300 yards and has an adequate backstop, we are very lucky. Another reason is we may not always have access to the actual ranges. Range time is often booked in advance with members having priority. Given I am a member of one club, I have priority but no longer the luxury of proximity.

Therefore, this "spot" we have is perfect.

Also, by practicing on the reduced targets, what I am really focusing on is the hold. Case in point, the diameter of the X-ring on the MR-1 target is 6 inches. For the MR-63 it is 2.85 inches. If I wobble even as much as a quarter inch at the firing line, that translates into as much as 3/4 inches at 300 yards. Add in the effect of a typical 1 MOA cross wind, that is now 3 additional inches of error. And now into the 9 ring. So hold and ability to read the wind are equally important. If a shooter can master that, then distance becomes irrelevant as longs as they know the dope for their rifle and ammo.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

Practice for Camp Perry continues.Still having some sighting issues with the backup rifle. So used it on Saturday for an 80-shot XTC match down in PHX. First string of sitting rapid fire at 200 yards was a 96-1X. All shots out the right. As far as wind goes, there was none.

So, made an adjustment, and fired the second string. Again, 10 shots for record, with a magazine change, in a time limit of 60 seconds. Results as follows:



Note the grid lines. The target is set to show the lines in MOA (can also be set for inches, millimeters, or milli-radians). Each box is 1 MOA x 1 MOA. Or, translated to inches for 200 yards, 2" x 2".

Only have maybe 6 more weeks to get the backup rifle fully dialed in. Primary is good to go.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

Have been busy so not much time to dedicate to this or the EDC thread. Travel to Perry is about 6 weeks away. Absolutely have to get the backup rifle squared away or only the primary goes.

Not worried about the others that will be going. Do need to pull them out soon for a good cleaning and lubing. Not that they are dirty or anything. It's just that they've not been shot in awhile and I like to make sure everything is squared away before the trip.

 

[RescueRanger]

Have been busy so not much time to dedicate to this or the EDC thread. Travel to Perry is about 6 weeks away. Absolutely have to get the backup rifle squared away or only the primary goes.

Not worried about the others that will be going. Do need to pull them out soon for a good cleaning and lubing. Not that they are dirty or anything. It's just that they've not been shot in awhile and I like to make sure everything is squared away before the trip.

Have a safe journey.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

Six weeks until I leave for Perry. And still trying to get the backup rifle settled in. Not having access to "the spot" is not helping. Not it a position to go down to PHX a couple times a week to train.

There is an 80-shot XTC match tomorrow in PHX. If it is still acting up, it will probably not make the trip. Fortunately, this particular range does not suffer from the effects of wind until late morning / early afternoon. We should be done well before that.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

Little bit of an update.

One of the things we shooters often wear is a heavy glove on our non-shooting hand. It helps with the support of the weapon as well as maintaining a firm grip while reducing the effects of the pulse.

In my case, I have two. One is a full-fingered glove which is ideal for the winter months. The other is a half-glove; the fingers are not there.

The half-glove had been on backorder and finally arrived late last week. I open it up and to my surprise, I am also helping the Pakistan economy:



Turns out the full-fingered glove is also Made in Pakistan. And, they are very well constructed.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

"Shooters. Your three minute preparation period for slow fire standing stage begins now."



The skies stayed like that for nine days. For five of those days, it rained.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

A view from the 600 yard line. Note the flags. The shooter had 4 minutes of right wind on the rifle. At that range, that is aiming at a point 2 feet to the right of the center of the target in order to hit the center. There are days we've had up to 8-10 minutes of wind. That is essentially aiming at the next target over in order to be able to hit yours.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

Some days, I shoot like this. You'll know it when you see it:



That was at 200 yards, rapid fire from the sitting position, with a magazine change, in a time limit of 60 seconds. For the interested, the "out to out" on the X-ring, including the white ring, is 3" in diameter. For the 10-ring, 7".

Other days, I shoot like this:



This was at 300 yards, rapid fire, from the prone position, with a magazine change all in a time limits of 70 seconds. The 200 and 300 yard scoring ring diameters are the exact same only on the 300 yard target the 8-ring is black. Why?

The "aiming black" is always 6 MOA regardless of distance. 6 MOA at 200 yards is 12" in diameter. At 300 it is 18". At 500 it is 30" and 600 yards is 36".

I don't shoot 1000 yard matches but yes, at 1000 yards, the aiming black is 6 MOA or 60" (5 ft) in diameter.