HOME

Shooters on match day – getting used to the wind at 300m.

Introduction
The November 2009 Gunslinger PLRS Rifle Challenge was once again held on the Sawdon Station, near Lake Tekapo.  This time the location was at the western side of the farm, just behind the pine plantation before you enter the Lake Tekapo township (coming in from Fairlie). 

The course was laid out in an area roughly a square kilometre, with a 100m high hill acting as a backstop.  From the top of the hill looking back provided magnificent views of the lake, the Southern Alps and the township.  Luckily, with an army base on the other side of the lake, the townsfolk were used to the sound of gunfire.  The ground conditions were dry and dusty, with plenty of rabbit warrens to trip the unwary.  Generally wind conditions were calm in the early morning and early evening with winds between 6mph and 10mph for most days. 

The firing points were relatively sheltered by the plantation, but judging wind direction and wind speed down range became a real challenge, with shooters often shooting around a target in gusty conditions.  Unlike the March 2009 Gunslinger Practice Day where we were shooting from ridge to ridge, this time the shooting was on flat to low undulations and mirage also became another factor for consideration.  Given the windy conditions the maximum ranges for metal reactive targets was kept to about 950m and the minimum was about 450m.

Shane Cossar was Match Director and both Shane and Darryn Haffenden were Range Officers for the three days of practical long range shooting.

The consensus was that the match was both fun and challenging and while it was very windy for a while the friendly atmosphere ensured everyone had a great time and learnt lots.

Scores

Tony Stewart (kneeling) providing instruction.

Tony Stewart placed first, winning three of the six stages and took the prize of $140 (total match fees).  Nick Hamilton placed second, winning one stage.  Two stages had no winner, with everyone failing to achieve a score on the Magnum Force and Sudden Impact Stages.  Tony shot with a RPA .308 fitted a Nightforce scope.

Calibres varied from one .270 to two .338 Lapua Magnum’s with four .308s.  All rifles were bolt-action.

There were eleven metal reactive targets used in the six shooting stages – two 28” high (8” rounds) auto reset targets, two 42” high (12”rounds) auto reset targets, four half size IPSC swinging targets, one life size Coyote (with swing out vitals), and two 28” (8”) embedded pepper popper targets (up on the steep hillside). 

Practice Day
Five shooters spent a very pleasant Friday re-zeroing rifles then initially moving back to the 350m mark on the known distance range, and shooting at various metal targets out to approximately 600m.  Then in the afternoon everyone moved back to the unknown distance firing points and shot at various metal targets.  Tony had brought along three of his metal targets and the 18” x 18” target proved very popular.

Gunslinger Rifle Challenge

The Gunslinger Rifle Challenge Course of Fire.

The weather forecast on the previous evening’s news was ominous – a gale-force wind warning issued for between 9am and 1pm.  At 8:30am as the seven competitors assembled it was almost calm.  With the wind starting to rise, a safety briefing was held outlined that we’d be taking the known distance shooting slowly, with the intention of not starting the match until after 1pm. 

Initially just a single Caldwell target stand was set-up to see if it would hold up in the high winds.  With the wind at around 25mph the backer was blown out and was last seen bouncing up and over the 100m high backstop!  The big advantage of this location was it has a large wooden target stand about 5 feet high and ten feet wide, and came complete with a wooden bench-rest at 100m.  Plan B was to split the shooters into two squads and place four targets on the wooden target stand.  Everyone then shot onto 21” x 21” medium range NRA paper targets (big black roundels) at 100m (two five round sets), 300m (two five round sets) and 700m (the first set into the 18” x 18” metal target).  By 11am it was a howling nor’wester and at times dust totally obscured the targets. 

A break for lunch in the plantation saw the wind starting to drop (but still at up to 12mph).  At 1:30pm the safety briefing for the unknown distance course was held and competitors were split into two squads.  One squad left with Darryn and the other with Shane, and after shooting three stages, swapped to shoot the other three stages.

Those who came with a shooting partner alternated between shooting and spotting for the shooter.  Those who came alone were paired with someone to assist spotting and ranging.  At each stage the RO provided verbal instructions about the target location and course of fire – some stages were scored on number of hits on target/s, others were scored on fastest time to hit all targets for that stage.  Ten minutes was allocated per shooter, and that included ranging the target, doping the aiming solution/s, firing, and on two stages moving between firing positions.

It quickly became evident that with the undulating terrain, ranges were being taken off larger areas before or after the targets, and consequently with incorrect ranges many shooters missed most of the closer targets.  Having previously walked past many of the targets most shooters failed to appreciate the relative positions of the targets, and blind reliance on LRFs proved costly.

Shortly after 5pm, as the last competitor finished, the wind died down to almost calm!

Re-shoot

One of the 42” high auto reset targets showing plenty of hits – they provided a very reliable fall back and upright reset when hit from 750m with both .308 and .338 Lapua Magnum.

Four shooters attended the after-match re-shoot on the Sunday morning, with everyone getting a shot or two with the other rifles as well.  Ironically, this was the best weather of the previous two days – calm and sunny.  About mid-day the range was closed, and with several people assisting with the clean-up, the targets were retrieved, packed up and in the trailer within an hour, and the last of us left the site fifteen minutes after that.

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.