November 2013 Armistice Day Match

I took my US Model of 1917 out for the November “Armistice Day match.” While not “official” the November match usually falls around Armistice Day so folks bring WWI rifles to this match.

It was an unseasonably nice for shooting, in the 60s, sunny and calm. Historically I’ve had trouble with this rifle, extraction isssues, trouble working the bolt and finding a good cheek weld. Other then have a little trouble with my position in slow prone, I had none of the problems I’ve had in the past with this rifle and I am happy with my score (80%). No misses in off hand, which made me happy, I’ve been dry fire practicing, working on keeping my support elbow a little tighter, and breaking the shot at the bottom of my breath. Which seems to have paid off.

I have found a good rhythm with my data book, which if nothing else helps me slow down and think about each shot.

Since earlier this season my scores have increased with the AR and garand I was happy that this has translated to the bolt gun, despite my lack of practice with it. Just one more match for the season coming up in December then a couple months of cold PA winter and practice.

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Shot sharpshooter, October garand match and data books.

It was a beautiful fall weekend here in PA for shooting. Bright and sunny, in the mid 50s and the leaves are at their peak of color!

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Saturday was NRA high power with my A2. I surprised myself by shooting an 88% which was the first time I shot over the Sharpshooter threshold (84%) while I still have to maintain an 84% average over 240 rounds if I can get an 85 in the April match I should make the cut. At least according to my math. I have several months to practice before April roles around, I better get to work.

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As far as the Garand match I did better (232/300) than my showing at York earlier in the month but I have yet to beat the fi score I had when I first took this rifle out (252/300). Had some cramping in my support hand which resulted in me canting the rifle a bit which hurt my prone scores but I think I did ok. I’ll see if I can find a little better hand position for the next match. I’m also going to replace the turner sling that has been on my rifle for several years now with a John Weller sling I picked up at Camp Perry and see if it helps.

In off hand I broke one before I should, into the left corner of the target which was a bad start to the string. But, I kept them on target for the rest of the the match.

This weekend’s matches were also the first where I attempted to use data books. The results were varied but I think I will keep it up. For Highpower it’s very difficult to see the .223 holes so for walk and paste I will probably snap a picture of the pattern and document it after the match. For the Garand match it is easier to see the holes so I was able to document the shots in slow fire. At least until I dropped my pen in off hand! I think its valuable info to gather especially to track windage and elevation changes across matches. I use a creedmoor book for service rifle and a custom impact book for JCG. Once I have a little more experience with the books I’ll write a full review.

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Next month is our armistice day match so ill be taking the 1917 out.

Fall Match at York Rifleman

I took a trip back to York Rifleman for their fall Garand Match. They shoot a full 200 yard match with pits. It’s a very well run match, I very much enjoy shooting with these folks.

The weather was perfect for shooting even if it was a little warm for October (high of 86) otherwise a light wind from behind and sunny.

I worked the pits first as I have for the past few matches with pits.

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I’m ashamed to confess I pulled one too soon in my haste to provide speedy service. Lucky for us our shooter didn’t fire while we pulled and we got it right back up. It’s important to wait for a call if you can’t see the shot.

I shot first after the pit change.

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I felt great in slow prone and did fairly well 92/2x I did OK in rapid prone 74 I jerked to the right a little. But oh boy did I screw up in rapid pone, misses and 6s all over the place.

My scorer suggested I work on shooting at my natural respiratory pause with dry fire. This was good advice. I’ve stuck some white pasters with black dots around my office and I’ll work on my natural pause. I’m in decent shape for the prone stages and my Winchester is performing well. All and all this isn’t a bad place to be.

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York shoots a spring match I’ll be back for sure. Except for Camp Perry this is my favorite match to shoot.

July John C. Garand Match

I had a great match this weekend with my Garand. My best match yet with a final score of 230 1X!

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My new Creedmoor jacket seemed to help, especially in prone. Off hand seemed much more stable however I struggled with my ear pro as my cheek weld was a bit off with the extra material in my shoulder. This cost me a couple (ok three) misses. However I seem to have gotten the hang of it and I’ll use my low profile ear pro at Camp Perry. Which is quickly approaching!

Learning The Pits at York Riflemen

On a whim I signed up to shoot the vintage rifle and Garand match at the CMP games at Camp Perry this year. While I have shot many “shoot and paste” matches, I have never shot at a range that uses pits and had no idea how it worked.

To rectify this I signed up for York Riflemen‘s annual JCG match

I did two rotations in the pit. It took me some time to get into the rhythm but all and all it’s not so bad.

How it works

In slow fire you raise the target watch the impact area on the berm. When your shooter fires you pull the target down. Place the spotting disk in the hole. Place the scoring indicator in the correct place. Patch the old hole if there is one.

Raise the target frame. Repeat as needed. Remember to have the right paster ready and put the spotting disks flipped so that they contrast the target (i.e. white on black)

The new 2012 slow fire score signal locations:

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On the other side of the line the scorer is sitting behind the shooter recording the scores and calling them out for the shooter (i.e. “first sigher is a miss”…well in my case).

For rapid its a bit less stressful. In the pit you raise the target. Count the impacts. After time is up take the target down put golf tees in the holes, Hang a chalk board on the target, tally up the scores (i.e. x=6 10=4). Then raise the target and the scorer notes them.

As far as my performance in the match….well I got a 203/300 which could have been better. But, for my first pit match at 200 yards in a cold rain, I’ll take it. The folks at York Riflemen are great to
shoot with I hope to be back next year.

In off-topic news it was fun to stay in a hotel with a 70 year old rifle. 🙂