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Galloway 1000yard BenchRest shoot – 16th October 2016


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Galloway Small Arms Club

Gelston 1000yard BenchRest shoot – 16th October 2016

Yes it was windy! – Destructively so!

 

On arrival at Gelston it was windy, but dry, this was going to be a testing day for sure. Thirteen hardy soles to brave wind and cold! A welcome return for Les Prior who is delighted that Emily Lenton is having a weekend off, then at least he’ll have a chance.

 

After preparation relay one to the benches, 2 Light guns and 1 Heavy. What’s that noise - rain! The heavens started to open and guess what the visibility started to disappear – will someone please put the lights on. Shooting was paused twice for “bad light” thought that only applied to cricket matches. Sighting in was a bit of a nightmare, difficult to see the splashes in the sand – wet sand doesn’t splash too well. It also helps if we’re aiming at the right target and when making scope adjustment it pays to turn the turrets the right way. Took me about 20 shots to get sighted in – how long have I been shooting? First results suggested not a day for small groups, the 6mm needing 10 mins of wind, Ross McLean has to suffer 3 penalties but Les Prior with heavy 7mm bullets is not doing too bad and starts with a 6.378” group - let’s see how the rest of the groups go. Unfortunately Les’ groups tend to get bigger and mine get smaller I manage to finish with a 6.181” group. Ross continues to struggle with the wind and in group 3 unfortunately picks up 5 penalties, but does register one 12” group. Les and I finish with aggs. Of around 11” but we’re in difference classes.

 

Relay 2 it starts with 4 light guns, unfortunately Glyn Cartwright struggles to get sighted in, he’ll come back to it later, so 3 light guns. James Arneil opens with a stunning group – 4.409” well done James that’s a cracking group any day and even more amazing considering the conditions today. Unfortunately for James his groups tend to grow, probably as it is getting winder, Dave Rankin has a pretty consistence set of groups around the 12-16” and Bruce Bell has mixed results with group 3 at 6.26”, again a good group for the conditions.

 

Change over time. Bruce Bell, Ross McLean, James Arneil and I are banished to the butts, but at least the rain has stopped. Initial comments from the butts crew are the usual complaint, the winds dropping, we demand a rerun! However, time will tell.

 

Relay 3, 1 Light gun and 2 Factory Sporters, good to see that Glen has got sighted in. Now the fun starts, the wind is really getting up, this will sort the men form the boys! After group one we have to repair target two as the punishing wind has ripped the target centre out – not the paper the plywood, a few shuffles around and we manage with the remaining 3 targets for the rest of this relay. Groups are very mixed, but the impact of the wind is clearly seen as groups grow to the 20+”.

However, interspersed all manage a few good groups; Glyn Cartwright gets a 12.2” in his first one, David Sharp just under 10” in group 3 and David Leslie 10.7” in group 2. You know it’s windy when David only manages a 13” agg. Well done to all for their perseverance.

 

Relay 4, a full house this time, 3 Factory Sporters and 1 Light Gun. And still the wind grows! Group 1 the butts crew hiding in the safe zone, notice target frame 2 wobbling, well its actually moving backwards and forwards in the wind by 12-18” – there it goes! Target two is over and target 1 is about to do the same. The group one results are BIG! Nobody manages less than 21”, unfortunately even with the 30 cal booboo Darrell has to suffer a 35” group, but Peter Cousar unfortunately hits the wrong target and has 5 penalties. For the butts crew it’s like CSI as we try to work out the 9 shots on target 3. With targets 1 & 2 out of action its now only 2 shooters at a time – Darrell and Peter continue with mixed fortunes, Darrell does manage a 10” group but interspersed with is his others his agg. is going suffer badly from his first group. Peter unfortunately has another “wrong target” mishap, Peter is it the wind or your aim? Maybe we need to paint the target outers different colours and/or paint the numbers on in big letters?

 

Relay 4B – Geoff McCluskey (borrowing David’s 308) and Rob Wilson get to resume their shooting. Again it is with mixed fortunes. Geoff’s groups get better and better and he finishes with a stunning 6.811” – well done. Rob keeps it steady around the 18-20” save for group 3 with penalties.

 

As the butts crew tidy up its evident that Target 3 wants to join 1 & 2 by laying down - essential maintenance is necessary.

 

In response to the inevitable question how do you shoot small’ish groups in such windy conditions? Collective wisdom suggests the following are essential (in addition to the normal requirements of making sure your set up of rifle, rest and bag back is as stable as possible, the gun tracks smoothly backwards and forwards, you avoid jerking the rifle when pulling the trigger or open/closing the bolt);

· Try to pick a settled wind condition, even if it is blowing so long as it constant!

· Try to shoot as fast as possible whilst maintaining your rhythm and not disturbing your set-up

But, as Les says, you cannot beat experience!

 

Thanks as ever to our spotters, they certainly have better eye sight than I have, having tried to help and failed. Thanks to RO of the day – Mr. Leslie.

 

Final results:

 

Factory Sporter:

 

1st David Leslie – 13.523”

2nd Geoff McCluskey – 17.067”

3rd David Sharp – 20.945”

 

Small Group – Geoff McCluskey 6.811”

 

Heavy Gun:

 

1st Les Prior – 10.935”

 

Small Group – Les Prior – 6.378”

 

Light Gun:

 

1st Tony Lenton – 10.964”

2nd Dave Rankin – 13.159”

3rd James Arneil – 13.632”

 

Small Group – James Arneil – 4.409”

 

Nearest the Bull

 

Tony Lenton – 0.944“

 

2016 League Update (after 8 shoots) - top three WITH discards i.e. best 6 from 10 so far!

 

Light Gun

 

Bruce Lenton 55pts, Tony Lenton 52pts, Darrell McIlreavy 49pts – all to play for guys!

 

Heavy Gun

 

Emily Lenton 49pts (cannot be beaten), Les Prior 19pts, Tom Thomson, Steven Lumb and Stuart Lumb all 10pts

 

Factory Sporter

 

David Leslie 60pts (cannot be beaten), Geoff McCluskey 53pts (cannot be beaten), Peter Cousar 27pts

 

Next Shoots:

 

Peter Jackson’s – 30th October

Gelston – 6th November

 

Safe shooting

 

Tony Lenton

 

Full Results

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/t2w32oqr7lyfybf/Gelston%201000yds%2016th%20October%202016.pdf?dl=0

 

 

 

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I can confirm it was a cold and very windy day but I enjoyed myself and thank God for the portable gas fire that was brought to the firing point.

Yes Bruce it was a nice change that the 'Wunderkind' Emily decided to let the 'also in attendance' shooters get a look in. I went to see your Dad's mancave after the shoot and was very impressed. See you all (including Emily?) at the 600yd shoot at Diggle.

 

.

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Thanks for the excellent write up Tony.

 

Well done to everyone that persevered in the "autumnal" weather that we endured. Despite the trials and tribulations we endured I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed the day, with the humour of the members coming to the fore helped in no small way by the heater graciously donated by Davie Rankin (no "e" this time Davie ;-)). We were slightly down on expected numbers with several people calling off in the week before, but given what happened it was possibly just as well.

 

It was good to see the BHG joining us again with his inimitable sense of humour, thanks for helping out with the spotting and getting shooters on. It was much appreciated.

 

I had visions of being beaten with one of my own rifles which Geoff had borrowed and I'm quite sure if he'd had some practice with it before the competition I'd have struggled to beat him......not sure I'd have lived it down if he had beaten me, or possibly more correctly, been allowed to live it down!

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Thanks Tony for the first class write up.

It was a fantastic day of shooting given the circumstances of the weather and visibility.

Many thanks to Davi Rankine (without the 'e') for the heater - I think it was very thankful by many....!

 

Top humour, top shooting - looking forward to more of the same next month!

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Just a quick note to let everyone know that the remedial works required on the target frames and faces mentioned in Tony's write up were carried out today by 4 hardy souls so they're good to go for the next round. Many thanks to all involved.

 

It should be noted that some shovelling and raking may be required before we start shooting on the next date. Please come prepared folks.

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Hmmmm,ok Neil,that's one perspective....but in perfect conditions everyone does not shoot the same size aggegates.....though they will all shrink.The discriminating factor becomes something other than wind reading-but may be shooting related (whether precision or accuracy,we can't tell...)

 

The alternate issue is,what does a winning aggragate of 56 inches represent,in terms of any useful shooting scenario? It's approaching the limits of usefulness. AND,wind introduces an element that may have nothing at all to do with shooter's ability (changes with bullet in flight....changes in relays....and so on).

None of these are absolutes,so doing well in challenging conditions still has considerable skill components,but as wind worsens,the correlated vagaries diminish the skill element.....as ever,consistency has to be factored in 3";9",38"; 16" with last two in near identical apparent conditions....means....?

 

It's likely shooters will differ in what they prefer,or see as 'realistic challenges' on a rather wide scale from sublime to ridiculous.

At the other end of the scale,consistently winning 100 BR by an aggregate of .005" means you are the best,but maybe not by much....(depends on consistency of runners up).

 

Why not ask,1000y win by x inches aggregated in benign conditions, contrasted to that x inches win in challenging conditions?

 

Though it's illusory to think the measures are really valid for just shooting skill.

 

Discuss?

 

gbal

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shooting 1k snaps is made more difficult by having 4 fig11's on the backer, having to put one shot on each slightly moving position is what makes scoring harder.

when I shoot siters they are usually pretty good,at the same fig11. quite often sub moa for 4 shots, last time marker radioed back saying white marker is covering 2 shots,i am not bragging by the way, too many people know me and quite a few use this forum and could confirm this statement,marker approx 70mm.

maybe shooting br there should be more than one target on the backer to make it more challenging being more than just the wind to allow for or shooting at longer ranges, all the gear around now makes it easier to shoot 1000yds, adding some more variables may make it more intresting aswell as more challenging.

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The time to give up BR is when you are regularly shooting aggregates that are smaller than calibre.

 

Til then,difficulty is admitedly relative,but it is essentially a norm referenced scale-ie are you better than the next guy,most of the guys,all of the guys, and all of the time. Only then are you ready for Emily Lenton. :-) ..and she's getting better...

 

g

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The time to give up BR is when you are regularly shooting aggregates that are smaller than calibre.

 

Til then,difficulty is admitedly relative,but it is essential a norm referenced scale-ie are you better than the next guy,most of the guys,all of the guys, and all of the time. Only then are you ready for Emily Lenton. :-) ..and she's getting better...

 

g

I hate to burst anyone's bubble that believes that one day they will have their revenge and maybe beat Emily over the course of a year :D .

I did hear a rumour and apparently her younger sister 4'1" or thereabouts is actually better than Emily and maybe more focussed, but has not yet appeared on the benchrest circuit. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!!! :lol::)

PS. Another rumour is that Emily might try F Class. We're doomed Captain Mainwaring, we're doomed!

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All hopes dashered,Les.

Norma service though might resolve the brass dilemma-thanks for that.

Having met both the Lenton parents,I'm not surprised.

Of course,I'm a developmental psychologist,tendence feministe-sometimes.

In the shooting domain-girls just have more potential,than in their macho restricted past.

May the best person win,and see it for what it is.

"Success and failure-those two imposters."

It's Kipling,and above the player's entrance to Wimbledon Centre Court.

g

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All hopes dashered,Les.

Norma service though might resolve the brass dilemma-thanks for that.

Having met both the Lenton parents,I'm not surprised.

Of course,I'm a developmental psychologist,tendence feministe-sometimes.

In the shooting domain-girls just have more potential,than in their macho restricted past.

May the best person win,and see it for what it is.

"Success and failure-those two imposters."

It's Kipling,and above the player's entrance to Wimbledon Centre Court.

g

 

Choices have not been dashed on the rocks just yet, but at least Kiipling does make exceedingly good cakes.

New balls George?

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  • 3 weeks later...

When is the next 1k br shoot.seems ages since the last results

Swaro, we had a shoot on Sunday. Unfortunately our normal story teller wasn't present and no-one has had a chance to do a write up yet. I'll ask mole-e30 to put a link up to the results in the meantime.

 

All i'll say is that the wind was just as bad if not worse on Sunday but it was coming 180° from the October shoot. It stayed fairly constant for the first 2 relays with the odd bit of twitching but on the 3rd relay it was seriously moving about, snapping from full value from behind to full value from the left, and just to make matters even harder every now and then it was dropping to half value as it moved.

 

However, a good (but cold - the wind was mainly north to south!!!) day was had by all.

 

Final shoot of the season (weather permitting) is, as devon flighter says, on the 4th of December. As of Sunday's shoot 1st, 2nd & 3rd in light gun are fixed, 1st in heavy gun can't be beaten and 1st and 2nd in factory sporter are set. Theres a good battle for 4th in lg between 4 shooters in the offing, 2nd and 3rd in hg will depend who turns up and there's a remote chance of the current 4th placed competitor taking 3rd in fs.

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The 1000yd in early October was a fishtail head wind.it was moving from 10 oclockish to 2 oclockish.studying my zeroing shots it wasn't worth having any windage dialed in.when flags were at 10 or 2 I aimed around 18 inches off.at 11 or 1 about 9 inches and when at 12 o'clock sent them strait at it.i thought I had a pb but the results didn't show this.i had witnesses too.NRA markers can be hopeless.

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