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The map above shows an example of the COF being planned for the Easter 2011 Gunslinger matches.  Once agin at Lake Tekapo, but this time the course will have lots of cross country travelling, and plenty of high angle shooting.  The actual positions of Firing Points, Targets, and ranges will vary according to actual site conditions.

Overview

The next Gunslinger event is being held over Easter weekend, on Sawdon Station at Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. 

Introduction

The match is operated by Gunslinger PLRS Limited.  Shane Cossar will be Match Director and Chief Range Officer.  Enquiries about competing or attending as a spectator should be made to shane_cossar@hotmail.com

Competitors can attend either as an individual, or as a team where a second person acts as a spotter.  Match fee is $40 per competitor, spotter, or spectator.  The team can also have each person shoot and spot for each other.

The course is spread out over several kilometres, so competitors should expect to walk approximately six kilometres on the Saturday. 

Competitors should also familiarise themselves with the Gunslinger PLRS Standard Operating Procedures.

Site Specific Range Rules

The match is open to competitors with the following categories of firearms; either a bolt action or semi-automatic rifle capable of hitting targets at up to 1000m (or 1600m for the Gunslinger Extreme Long Range Challenge).  Typically the rifle should be capable of less than 1 moa accuracy.  

Ammmunition is restricted to a maximum muzzle velocity of 3250 fps. 

.338s, .408s, .416s, and .50 calibre rifles are welcome in the Gunslinger Extreme Long Range Rifle Challenge.  However, calibres larger than .338 will be restricted to use only on the Any Which Way You Can, and Unforgiven stages.

Armour piercing, incendiary, tracer, and steel core ammunition is prohibited.

Acceptable rifle configurations include:

• Suppressor or muzzle brake
• Rifle scope, any magnification, with mil-dot or any type of reticle
• Attached shooting support eg bipod, monopod
• Attached shooting aids eg bubble level, angle degree / cosine indicator
  

Competitors must be self sufficient and carry their rifle, ammunition, equipment, and enough provisions for a long day in the field.  Recommended equipment includes:

• Eye protection
• Rifle sling
• Day pack
• Binoculars, including with mil-dot type reticles
• Laser Range Finder, including binoculars with LRF capability
• Ballistic calculator, printed ballistic data cards, manual or electronic calculators
• Portable weather meter
• Lunch, snacks, water
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Windproof / waterproof outer clothing layer

Hard rifle cases are not suitable for use during the match.  Drag bags with shoulder straps and Eberlestock type packs are recommended for carrying rifles between stages, and between firing points within a stage.  Otherwise some sort of pack or vest will be required to carry gear.

Mandatory Equipment:
Competitors and spectators must use hearing protection.  Eye protection is recommended.

Gunslinger PLRS Challenges are long range rifle shooting competitions on field style ranges.

For information about two annual US PLRS style competitions - the Shooter’s Bash and Snipers Hide Cup - visit Rifles Only at:
www.riflesonly.com

To read a review of "Absolutely Diabolical"  The Allegheny Sniper Challenge September 25-27, 2009, by Ian Kenny, visit Shooting Voodoo at:
www.shootingvoodoo.com

Administrative Rules
No competitors or spectators shall smoke or light any type of fire at the competition site (but is permitted at the camping area).

No competitors or spectators shall bring any dog to the competition site (and is not permitted at the camping area either).

Schedule (22, 23, 24 April 2011)

The weekend will have the following activities:

Friday - optional Practice Day

• Registration and Safety briefing, on arrival
• Practice at any desired distance
• BBQ dinner
  

Saturday (round count 40 competition, + 20 night shoot)

• Registration and check-in, 7:00am
  
• Safety briefing, 7:45am
• Move to firing points, 7:30am
  
• Competition, 8:00am – 6:00pm
• Safety Briefing. 6:15pm
• Night Shoot, 6:30pm - 7:30pm - Optional
  
• BBQ dinner
  

Sunday - optional Re-Shoot

• Safety briefing, 8:30am
• Reshoot of some stages in own time and / or unscored shooting at targets, 9:00am – mid-day, additional rounds eg 30
• Range closed, mid-day
• BBQ lunch
  

Practice Day,  and Re-Shoot
Practice Day and the ReShoot will have the following stages:

• Clyde
• 100m target board for sight-in, Dot Drills, or Know Your Limits
• 100yd target board for sight-in, Dot Drills, or Know Your Limits
  
• 100yd target board for CATS (mil and moa)
  
• Bench and chronograph (CED M2)
  
• Crapgame
• Four metal targets at ~600m, ~700m, ~800m, ~ 900m
• Oddball
  
• Two metal targets at ~ 1000m, ~1200m
• Big Joe
• One metal target at ~ 1620m
• Kelly's Heroes
• A stalk along a creek with five metal targets at distances between 150m and 500m

• Demonstration (10 min) - Using Dot Drills and Know Your Limits to improve marksmanship
• Demonstration (15 min) - Using the Combination Accuracy Training System (CATS) to eliminate Cant, and validate knob clicks
• Workshop (20 min) - Range Estimation using mil or moa reticles, based on the Range Estimation Training Set from Impact Data Books
• Workshop (15 min) - How to fill in a Sniper Data Book (using the pages that will be provided to all competitors and spectators)

• Blood Work;
• One metal target illuminated by a red filtered light
  
• Coogan's Bluff
  
• Two metal targets illuminated by a white light spotlight
• High Plains Drifter
  
• One metal target illuminated by glowsticks
• Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
  
• One metal target illuminated by glowsticks

Unknown Distance COF - Gunslinger Rifle Challenge
Five of the UKD stages are scored on a points per hit basis:

• The Rookie
• The Gauntlet
• Sudden Impact
• The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
• Absolute Power
  

Another three of the UKD stages are scored on fastest time to hit all targets, and failure to hit all targets results in no score:

• Magnum Force
• The Eiger Sanction
• Heartbreak Ridge

All stages have a maximum time limit of 10 minutes, which includes; target acquisition, range estimation, firing, and any movement to other firing points.

Targets are generally placed between 600m and 1000m.

Competitors will not be advised of ranges to targets and must have some method of range estimation eg mildot reticle and / or range finder.  The use of ballistic data cards and / or ballistic calculators are recommended.  Competitors must carry all equipment with them between stages and within a stage eg using a pack (hard cases are not suitable).

Metal reactive targets are used in UKD stages and competitors using a reticle for range estimation are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the metal targets and sizes listed on the reactive targets page.

The Rookie
One firing point with two targets – one 28” high auto reset popper (8” round) at approximately 800m, and one 42”high auto reset popper (12” round) at approximately 1100m.
Using a total of five rounds, fire at the target/s of the shooters choice.
1 point per hit on the closest target, and 2 points per hit on the furthest target.

The Gauntlet
Three firing points with one full sized Deer target (approximately 42" wide and 40" high body) with swing out vitals, at approximately 1000m.
Using a total of five rounds, starting with the furthest firing point, fire two rounds from the first and second firing points, and one round from the closest firing point.  .
1 point per hit on lung swing-out vitals and 5 points per hit on heart vitals (knocking the flags up).  No points for other body hits.

Hint:  Centre-of-mass hits won’t win this one - you must aim at the vitals.  By the time you’re on the last firing point your windage and elevation should be sorted, then concentrate on follow-thru to repeat hits on the lungs or heart to boost points.

Sudden Impact
One firing point with one Coyote with swing-out vitals target, at approximately 500m. 
Using a total of five rounds, a hit on the body will score 1 point, and a hit on the vitals (knocking the flag up) will score 2 points.
This stage also involves finding the natural coloured target within a given arc of fire.

Hint:  First, you need to find the target.  But only multiple hits on the vitals will win this one.  With a stable firing position, natural point of aim, good trigger control, and consistent follow-thru there’s no reason why you can’t get five hits here.

Magnum Force
One firing point with four half-size swinging IPSC targets, at distances from approximately 600m to 900m.
Using a maximum of five rounds, firing from left to right, each target is to be hit once.  Scored on fastest time to hit all four targets.

The Eiger Sanction
Three firing points with one 28” high auto reset popper target (with 8” round), at approximately 800m.
Using a maximum of five rounds, starting with the closest firing point, the target is to be hit once.  After hitting the target from a firing point the shooter will move to the next (further) firing point.  Scored on the fastest time to hit the target from each firing point.

Hint:  Keep your heart rate down and your breathing under control.  Get your gear organised so you can pack it up and move quickly between the firing points.  And be able to get to a stable firing position – again, and again, and again.  This can be done in three shots.

Known Distance COF - Gunslinger Extreme Long Range Rifle Challenge

The Gunslinger Extreme Long Range Rifle Challenge includes six UKD stages of the Gunslinger Rifle Challenge, plus two KD stages further than 1000m.

One of the KD stages is scored on a points per hit basis:

• Any Which Way You Can
  

Another KD stage is scored on fastest time to hit the target, and failure to hit the target results in no score:

• Unforgiven

All stages have a maximum time limit of 10 minutes, which includes; target acquisition, calculation of aiming solutions, and firing.

Competitors WILL be advised of ranges to the targets. The use of ballistic data cards and / or ballistic calculators is recommended. 

Unforgiven
One firing point with one full sized IPSC target, at approximately 1620m (one mile).
Using a maximum of five rounds, hit the target once.  Scored on the fastest time to hit the target once.
To assist with scoring, this target has a Flash Target/s attached.

Hint:  Shooting l-o-n-g range was the reason you bought your .338, .375, .416, or .50 cal rifle.  There’s no sugar coating this stage though.  Simply put, to hit this you need to be very good - or very, very lucky.  Ask the whole squad to spot, but only heed those who actually see trace or impact.  And you need to be include coriolis and spin drift in your calculations.

Legal:  In consideration for being permitted to attend this practical long range shooting event, the competitor is agreeing to the following:
The competitor holds a current firearms licence, including any endorsements applicable to the firearm being used.
The competitor expressly assumes the risk of taking part in the match, which includes; instruction in the use of firearms, the discharge of firearms, and the firing of live ammunition.
The competitor agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and defend Gunslinger PLRS Limited, its staff, and the match location owner, from all fault, liabilities, costs, expenses, claims, demands or lawsuits arising out of or connected with the competitors presence at and / or participation in the event; the discharge of firearms by the competitor or other competitors; the competitors presence on or use of the event location.
The competitor understands, and will at all times abide by all event Standard Operating Procedures, Course of Fire and any other rules and procedures stated by the Match Director or Range Officer/s.

Disclaimer:  Shooting is potentially dangerous and damaged equipment can be expensive to fix.  You should confirm all changes to be made to your rifle system and shooting practices with your local gunsmith or gunshop owner.