F-tr leagur Round 1
Round 1 F-Class League
03/03/2013
Arrived at the range early and got my safety target shot and out of the way. Chatted and had a laugh with fellow shooters on the safety range whilst looking to see what new toys had come out to play… One Big mug of tea in the clubhouse and more tall tales, while watching the wind flags out the window.
The morning was dry and overcast, with a 3-4 mph breeze coming from 12 o’clock which is unusual for the midlands range. All knew that’d change by the time we took to the firing line. With enough tea drank and stories told we headed for the 900 yard firing point.
The breeze had indeed picked up to a 7 to 12 mph 2 o’clock breeze with nice sudden let offs . I was drawn on target 10 with Joe and Joe to shoot first. The sun was by now trying to break through and some mirage was running right to left. Joe shot well with a string of 5’s and V’s from his 7mm. Then I was up…
I didn’t start well and was slow to get my wind calls where I wanted them, with the odd let off giving me a couple of fours :-O … with my new sightron scope wound up to 45/48X, I no longer could see competitors boards to notice their shot placement, which can be a useful aid . I noticed slight elevations coming into my elevations. I had used this load to shoot a 3/8 moa group the previous week and wondered if something was happening to my rear bag. I finished with a 71.6 ex 75.
Back to the 1000 yard line and onto target 12, this time I was to shoot first. The firing point for board 12 has, as I now know, a big hollow which with two shooters on the point is impossible to get out of without pulling way back from the line. I found the best position I could and settled behind the rifle. Relaxing and watching the wind flags and mirage, I felt comfortable and relaxed.
I fired my first two sighters, neither of which placed where I expected!!! I added an extra two moa of elevation, this was strange. The wind had picked up a little and I held 1 to 2 left or right windage as was needed, whilst keeping 6.5 moa right windage on the scope. Shot three dropped vertically into a 2 (BUGGER) . The question was … ammo or something mad going on??
I resettled on my rear bag and fired again… 2 again (bugger). I adjusted my elevation and was back on for the elevation I needed. Then a couple of shots later … Yep you guessed it … 2 , but this time my elevation climbed, so learning from my earlier experience I checked rear bag, scope, rifle and bipod and all seemed OK. I adjusted my scope and was back nearly where I wanted it. My head was fried at this point and I was just glad to finish the detail.
Dropping 9 points in 3 shots and finishing with a scope in the low 60’s I was a little disheartened as I packed up my gear. Then as I removed my bi-pod I noticed it … my swivel stud which attaches my bi-pod to the rifle was loose, not by much but obviously enough.
This in a strange way comforted me, the fact that I now knew the reason and I wasn’t my loading or technique and was an easy fix. New Rail on its way.
I later learned I finished 5th in this round, so I wasn’t the only one to suffer on the day.
It’s all a learning curve and from the days shooting I learned a few lessons and hopefully you can pick up something from my story or maybe just enjoy the read.
Well done to the lads who shot their first comp. and did well,Mark Kinane and Paul Dunne. Great to see experienced and novices on the line together.
A big thanks to JP, Tony and all the lads in MNSCI who ran the day and to those who worked the butts, an enjoyable day with a few lessons learned.