International Sniper Competition Czech Republic

[Ronin]

On Sunday 11th May, 7 intrepid brits set out from the UK on a long and arduous trip to attend the 10th Police Sniper Championship at Libava proving ground in the Czech Republic. The competition is open to both military and police regulars and invited “guests”. The group I travelled with consisted of competitors from previous shooting competitions fitting the contestant criteria.

25hrs in a minibus can at times be unpleasant and cramped for various reasons, but, in the main, the outward journey passed without incident and without anyone resorting to duelling tactics! Our host for the competition David (DS1) had arranged for us to spend the night at police accommodation in a training school at Holesov, which proved to be very welcome indeed. The rooms were clean, the food and local Czech beer also excellent.

Feeling thoroughly refreshed, on Tuesday morning our group, together with two contestants from Denmark travelled to the site of the competition at Libava, which is a training ground covering a vast area with ranges for both small arms and artillery situated on the eastern side of the Czech Republic. The area consists of rolling open land with steep valleys most hills are covered in deciduous woodland and are very picturesque.

 

We also saw numerous deer every day, but I digress

 

Having arrived, we registered and paid the small entry fee and were accommodated in brand new accommodation blocks and then invited to the main range complex to re-zero and prepare for the main competition, which was to last two days.

 

I found that my zero had changed .2mil vertically and reset the scope accordingly, it wasn’t possible to check farther out on paper that day, I had not had the opportunity to shoot beyond 100 meters at home prior to the trip as I have only just completed the rifle and settled on an accurate load for it. However, as I have predicted drop tables out to 1000 meters it was both satisfying and interesting to see connections on rocks at an elevated setting 900 meters away from the FP. What was apparent though was given the open location of the range, the wind was going to be a real pig to predict as there was little or no long grass to indicate the direction.

 

Heat haze was also apparent even at 100 meters.

 

Whilst zeroing we were joined by other competitors from Ukraine, Spain, Russia, Austria, Denmark, France, Slovakia, Romania and of course the Czech Republic, Once satisfied with zero we retired the weapons to the armoury and as zeroing is thirsty work, we retired to the bar.

 

The following day there was an official opening ceremony and safety briefing, the competitors were split into two groups (there were 60 in each group) and we were told that two ranges with separate courses of fire were to be used simultaneously. The Czech army had also set up a substantial mess area where we were to be fed and watered during the next two days.

 

 

Once the safety brief was over the two groups split and my group were briefed on the course of fire for the first stage of the comp. relatively simple, it consisted of very small score zone area targets at 150 meters – 5 shots, five different targets in 2 mins, no pressure then! The second COF was at 300 meters again from prone on a standard black circle target (5 shots in 2 mins) and the third was another black circle at 350 meters again from prone in 2 mins. All the targets were on ETR once the three courses of fire were completed we walked down range for scoring.

It was in this format that all the competition was held.

 

Typical COF briefing targets

 

 

 

and results

 

 

 

 

During the two days, the targets varied from hostage/ bad guy to standard 300 meter black circles but the one thing they held in common was that the scoring area was minute or sub minute score area no matter how far or close they were, shooting positions were prone, with rest / back bag or seated, with no support other than your body. It certainly focuses the mind shooting at a 4 inch disc at 350 meters with a score area the only 2 inches across! The targets were all known distances and we were briefed as to the score area, number of shots and time at each detail, on hand were English translators, who did an admirable job of making things easy to understand. Temperatures were quite changeable on the range, going from a mild 18 degrees to a heady 28 the same day, this affected bullet placement as the range as the etrs are set behind slate tracks set at 50 meter increments out to 500 meters, rising air off these tracks caused bullet POI to rise some 4 inches at times even with the guys shooting 338’s.

 

Interesting COF below - no wind at firing point yet swirling hell at 200 and 250!

 

200 mtr hostage (A4 paper) bad guy in middle - doh!

 

 

250 mtr hostage (A4 paper) bad guy in middle - doh!

 

 

350 mtr hostage (A4 paper)

 

 

 

 

Overall, the standard of shooting was very high (as you would expect as the contestants in the main do this for a living) and the courses of fire was designed to cause an element of realism with target area size and stress inducing time constraints. One shooter snapped a bolt handle on a Unique Alpine and another, “The Colonel” suffered from a wandering zero (7MOA overnight), loose scope “prisms” and “mount” problems with his IOR optic. The guys that won? Well they were from the specialist units of the Ukraine / Russian Alpha teams and CZ URNA team – the winning contestant shot with unerring accuracy with a Blaser LRS2 (308) on its second barrel and a swarowski 6-24 scope, his team mates also used Blaser LRS2’s and Leupold scopes, it amused me to have a conversation with him later (his English was far better than my Ukraine) when he told me that he preferred the Leupold scope over the Swarowski (as they are clearer)

 

350 mtrs seated!

 

 

There was loads of Gucci kit in use, from DSR-1’s (in abundance) to AIAW’s, to Blaser LRS2’s, to the odd Sauer 205 and 3000, also in abundance were Rem 700 PSS’s, Nightforce , Leupold and the odd S&B PM11, but I guess they will not be that prevalent next year if the price hikes continue.

 

My own rifle performed faultlessly as did Rob Hunters (both in 6.5x47 Lapua), my concern over the BAT being a little tight was unfounded, the only issue I had was down to me during a 5 shot timed COF at 400 meters I didn’t eject a case properly and ended up with a reversed cased in the breech with a live round entered into the neck of the spent case, caused me a “moment” but I sorted it and thankfully completed all shots just in time.

 

If it matters, I came 62 ex 120, scoring 384 points, the winner shot a 620, but given the opposition, I am perfectly satisfied with that placing and the performance of the rifle. Maybe I will get to go next time or to the military comp that is scheduled early 2009, who knows what the future holds.

Thanks must go out to David (DS1) who as always made attendance possible by organising paperwork and entry to these competitions, without his assistance it would not have been practicable for us to field a team.

 

If anyone has any questions regarding further competitions or even booking with David for pistol / rifle tuition / courses he is more than approachable and accommodating. Ive been a few times to competitions in the Czech Republic and have to say that the people are absolutely fantastic, friendly, welcoming and generous, new friendships were made and old ones rekindled a marvellous experience that I hope to do again soon!

[nuttyspaniel]

Well done mate, sounds like it was a cracking week.

[Elwood]

A cracking write up, and well done. I think I would have felt nervous shooting alongside special unit members, damn my competitive nature

[SteveW]

Hi Andy

Glad to hear the new rifles performed flawlessly, a very respectable finish considering the quality of the other competitors Must have been very satisfying to think the build was all done by youself. I reckon the hostage @ 200 yards has got shifty eyes anyway, good call.

Cheers Steve

[foxing2night]

Hi andy,

Glad to hear that you had a good time,,,

 

Also to finnish with good results aswell,, Can,t be bad Hope that you are happy ????

Well done mate,,

 

Andy the aw had its first comp today at the diggle!!!! Did not get a high score, as i got the elevation settings wrong But the groups were very good???? All were capable of going well inside the scoring ring,,, That is if i had of got the settings right ( The nut at the but did it again????)

Next time i will make sure i get it right,,,,

 

All the best from Wales,, Darrel

[eldon]

well done Andy good write up and result.

[ds1]

Thanks for an excellent write-up Ronin.

 

I guess it is worth mentioning the differences between the police and military comps here - as Ronin said the police comp is from static positions with small targets. Military comps tend to have a one day ghillie crawl, more shooting from hides, towers, hidden targets, ukd targets and often a close mover and longer static target shot on the same discipline.

 

Both type of comps offer something different but equally challenging.

 

David.

[6mmBR]

Excelllent write up and seems a load of fun.

Cheers

Dave

[varminter]

A very nice writeup - thanks for sharing Ronin!!!!

All the best..............

RAY................................

[Alycidon]

Well done Andy, sounds like you had a good time and the gear all worked as it should.

 

A

[Guest varmartin]

Enjoyed the read , with good pics too.

 

Shame there were none of the weapon systems being used .

 

Well done indeed on your position in the ranks, not to be sniffed at.

[Ronin]

Thnks for the kind words guys.

 

 

 

To be honest Martin, I didnt really have time to take loads of pics of the systems in use, the only things that were prevalent in use this year was the DSR-1's, which look awesome, but I was shooting on the same detail as the guys using them - once the detail finished we had to put eveything under cover.

 

I'm sure the other guys who went took more pics than me, I can try and get some more if people want them posting I will.

[silentsoulsleave308holes]

Enjoyed the read , with good pics too.

 

Shame there were none of the weapon systems being used .

 

Well done indeed on your position in the ranks, not to be sniffed at.

 

 

 

dont you mean " not to be sniped at"

 

good write up....do you have any more pics?

[Ronin]

Here are a few more pics chaps, sorry, not showing competitor faces for obvious reasons:

 

 

My partner and I shooting the reducing distance target

 

 

Hostage target 350 mtrs - one shot only

 

 

The only indicator of wind sometimes was the bullet splashes off the slate protection strips for the ETR's behind the main targets.

 

 

Prior to the start of the comp, we got a few shots with Robs 408 CT on the rock field at 900 mtrs.

 

 

All I can say is I have never shot a rifle so fast and flat shooting and when it connects, the target disappears

 

More like a small artillery shell than a rifle cartridge.

 

[Bambi-basher]

Thanks for the write up Andy, nice one glad you had fun.

 

Pat:- "Kill them all and let god sort it out." springs to mind.

 

Best rgds

 

B-b