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Galloway 1000yard BenchRest shoot – 19th March 2017


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Galloway Small Arms Club

Gelston 1000yard BenchRest shoot – 19th March 2017

Welcome readers to the beginning of the 2017 1000 yard series at Gelston.

 

The forecast said wind and rain, well yours truly was there bright and early, forget the rain and the wind you couldn’t see but 200 yards – fog, mist, low cloud, call it what you want it was doing a great job of obscuring the route to the targets.

 

Maybe a few too many had been watching the weather forecast or maybe they were a bit nesh waiting for the warmer weather but there was only 12 of us. Welcome to Ed Walker for his first taste of Gelston.

 

Whilst we waited for the mist to go we had a good crack and caught up on the trials and tribulations of last 3 months since our last “outing”.

 

After a few false starts the rain stopped, the mist lifted and the targets appeared – great let’s get on with it. Whilst not looking specifically the time I guess it was about 11:00 by the time we started, as I said the rain had stopped and whilst the wind had abated a touch it was still there and ready to do it’s upmost to spoil our day.

 

First detail 4 Light Gun’s, under the careful eye of David Leslie we’re off, all sighted in remarkably quickly as ever aid by Glyn Cartwright and his trusty spotting scope not sure if the scope has graduations on it or it’s Glen’s skill but I am constantly amazed that Glyn can be inches precise as he tells us 2” high or 4” to the left. First honours to Dave Rankin with a creditable 7.5”, will he get better or? The rest of us are into double figures. Second relay and your’s truly manages 6.7” I’ll settle for that Geoff McCluskey gets better but unfortunately things get worse for Dave and James Arneil, but two down and two to go. Relay 3, by this time we’re seeing groups dancing all around the target boards and the wind raises and lulls, you really need to get your shots off fast otherwise you’re going to pay the penalty. Geoff sees an improvement again Dave’s groups continue to grow and James gets well bitten by the wind. After more scope twiddling final group, not my best but today I’ll settle for 8.5” but my colleagues are in the high teens and low twenties as its Geoff’s turn to get bitten.

 

Second detail and it’s a mixture this time 2 Light Guns and 2 Factory Sporters. In fairness to this detail we should acknowledge that the wind did seem to be “freshening”. David Leslie reporting that he’s starting with 10MOA of wind on – now that’s a bit of a blow! First relay credit to Ross McLean with a 9.1” starter, others are less fortunate but still reasonable groups considering the conditions. Relay 2, more windage added, David says another 2.5” David Sharp records 11”, but the sting in the tail is that’s just 4 shots as he get blown to the extreme left hand side of the target. Glyn Cartwright has the best at 15.8” but David and Ross are into the 20’s. And yet more scope adjusts, another half and MOA, I hope the wind doesn’t drop otherwise all will disappear off the right hand side of the board. Glyn Cartwright has the best of the third relay with just under 15” and that’s with a 6.5 x 47 too - well done. Final detail for these guys; David Leslie, who’s been complaining about his rifle not riding the bags properly finally gets things on track (pardon the pun) and gets well into single figures with 7.362” (he’s now got 13MOA of windage on that’s equivalent to 11 feet and he’s using his trusty 308!!!!!) however, David’s isn’t the best group of this relay as Ross McLean pips him with his 6.5x47 40 thou to the good – great result Ross, David and Glyn also post better groups this time too.

 

Final detail - again a mix bag with another 2 Factory Sporters and 2 Light Guns. Darrell McIlreavy just misses out on single figures, son Lewis gets 15”, Ed Walker 19” (cracking group for your first time at 1000yards) but its Robert Wilson who sets things alight with the best group of the day so far an amazing 5.551” with his Savage 308 – now who’s going to beat that? Worth noting all the Factory Sporters are 308’s Savage 3, Remington 1. Second relay, Ed gets better, but unfortunately Roberts can’t repeat it, Darrell and Lewis also suffer. However Lewis has a problem with his last round as the empty case won’t extract and eject, later examination shows the BooBoo’s extractor is damaged so he switches to his Dad’s 7 WSM. Relay 3 Darrell’s still in double figures, Robert has a big group but does keep it on the paper and Ed post exactly the same as his first group, but it’s Lewis who does the best with just under 12” beating Dad with his own gun! Final detail of the day, a missed bag for most but Darrell causes pandemonium when he sneaks a great group to “steal” my small group patch AND if that’s not enough to also “steal” Glyn Cartwright’s nearest the bull – Darrell’s group of 5.551” being just 28mm off the centre – jammy sod!

 

Thanks to the butts crews, it should be noted that it was a bit wet and slippy up at the targets, the “truck” needed judicious driving and being on foot required the skills of a mountain goat, but all arrived back at base safe and well. As said before Glyn was as ever spotter extraordinaire – we need to train a back-up, just in case Glen wants a holiday!

 

The weather might have intimidated us a bit but a great day and great crack.

 

Final results:

 

Factory Sporter:

 

1st David Leslie – 14.055”

2nd David Sharp – 18.149”

3rd Ed Walker – 18.228” ………………. Remember this is Ed’s first time at 1000yards!!!

 

Small Group – Robert Wilson 5.551”

 

Heavy Gun:

 

No competitors -yet

 

Light Gun:

 

1st Tony Lenton – 8.493”

2nd Darrell McIlreavy – 10.866”

3rd Dave Rankin – 12.431”

 

Small Group – Darrell McIlreavy – 5.551”

 

Nearest the Bull

 

Darrell McIlreavy – 1.102”

 

2017 League

 

Light Gun

 

Tony Lenton 10pts, Darrell McIlreavy 9pts, Dave Rankin 8pts

 

Heavy Gun

 

Not yet!

 

Factory Sporter

 

David Leslie 10pts, David Sharp 9pts, Ed Walker 8pts

 

Next Shoots:

 

Peter Jackson’s – 26th March

 

Gelston – 16th April

 

Safe shooting

 

Tony Lenton

 

Full Results

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fw5uigmxiooacq1/Gelston%201000yds%2019th%20March%202017.pdf?dl=0

 

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Thanks for the great write up as usual Tony hWithh the 3 month lay-off, it was good to catch up with everyone once again.

Great shooting from everyone on the day!

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give darrell "onslow52" a shout ! oh and empty your in box you cant receive any more messages

Contacted him though facebook,

 

hopefully going to pop over one weekend soon! :D

 

Cleared out my inbox also :blush:

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