F T/R Competition Intro to F-class and Highpower NRA competition in Houston, TX.

[Denys]

On Saturday, May 3th, Bayou Rifles will be holding a one day class for those who want to get into or learn more about NRA Highpower competition (this includes F-class,) during the "wind reading" class. You can get more information here: www.bayourifles.org

The monthly 1000 yard competition is held the next day, Sunday May 4th. So you can come and learn about competition and then you can compete the next day.

 

[GeeJ]

I now have it saved to my calendar with reminders should I forget (though I doubt I will). I haven't been a member of Bayou Rifles for all that long, but have really enjoyed the folks that I have met during cold-range breaks. Still, I haven't had the pleasure to really sit down and really meet some of the others, especially those focused more toward long range precision marksmanship in whatever form it takes. Glad to know there are members here at the Hide. Anyway, thank you for the heads up well in advance.

I don't know that I'll be ready to compete by then since I'm having to learn the craft on my own (at least at the moment). I simply don't know anyone, personally, with the same interest. That is to say aside from a quick suggestion from others here and while at the range and what I get here at the Hide. Regardless, it's the knowledge, experience and the opportunity to meet new people who I hope to learn from that interests me the most. For me, competing is secondary to learning. Then again, by competing I'd be learning things I wouldn't have learned by not competing. What place I finish wouldn't really matter. If I learned something, then I won something. Yup! I may have just talked myself into the match on Sunday. People say I'm indecisive....but I don't know.

Anyway, Denys, it's nice to meet you. Again, thank you for the heads up! I'll see you there on May 3rd & 4th or perhaps some time on the weekends before then.

 

[Denys]

Thanks for the note GeeJ. We are working to make sure the training day is a good worthwhile experience for the attendees. We have a good team put together to provide good information, but as is usually the case in these things, it will be up to the individual to get the information they can glean from this.

We are including the stuff that we think is important to know and trying to cover what new competitors have to learn and also expand the knowledge of people who have been competing for a while. If you have specific areas you would like to learn about, now would be a great time for that info as we are working on the syllabus for the course.

 

[rdog52]

I'm in a very similar position as GeeJ. New member of Bayou and still learning long range precision marksmanship on my own as well. I'm looking forward to competing! I will be attending the class and am looking forward to the experience. Thanks, Denys, for what y'all are doing to help out the less experienced.

 

[bdubb]

Denys, Thank you for posting this up as I didn't know about it yet and will try to attend if work allows. I worked with Coach Mullins a week ago to get certified, and was out there yesterday for load development and met Dan. I was the guy who approached you at 100y about using the back range as Dan and I wanted to be sure.

I'd like to get into F-class with you guys but will have to use a less than optimal rifle and stay with the mid-range, or have one built before doing so at the 1000y. My primary precision rifle at the moment has a fixed muzzle brake on it for a fast attach suppressor. Any objections to attending this class (not competing) with the suppressor? I doubt many people, including myself, care to have the muzzle brake near them when under the metal roof of the 1000y line so I'm hoping allowing the suppressor would be meet-in-the-middle sort of thing for the class.

 

[GeeJ]

.....If you have specific areas you would like to learn about, now would be a great time for that info as we are working on the syllabus for the course.

Huuummm. Personally, I find record keeping and data collection to be a nerdy fixation of mine that I enjoy. Am I in the minority of shooters who don't just log every single tiny detail for every single step of the precision process because they have to, but because they enjoy it? Beyond question I'm sure. However, wether a data set is simply used as a reference card or is stored in a database for the purpose of extrapolating relational trends between any fixed/variable input(s); keeping and maintaining the various data books one should be keeping is (at least to me) critically important. Understanding what kinds of data are most important, how to collect it and how to make sense of it to produce positive results.
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My foggiest area is mainly with the actual body mechanics and fundamentals of shooting. Good or bad, I tend to spend far less time shooting than I do learning about the factors that influence shooting. Though, I have really been looking into some proper formal instruction to help build correct fundamentals. I guess studying the craft will only take me so far, but moving forward and doing it, while learning in the process, will take me the rest of the way. I should stop writing such long-winded replies and go shoot more!

After that it's everything involved with external ballistics when shooting beyond 100 yards. That's right, 100 yards. I only recently got my first precision rifle and took my time setting it up properly......but I'm loving it so far.
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On a side note: the page you linked to above said that attendees needed to register but I couldn't find any links on the site to do so. Do we just send it to the HP Division email address?

 

[Denys]

Denys, Thank you for posting this up as I didn't know about it yet and will try to attend if work allows. I worked with Coach Mullins a week ago to get certified, and was out there yesterday for load development and met Dan. I was the guy who approached you at 100y about using the back range as Dan and I wanted to be sure.

I'd like to get into F-class with you guys but will have to use a less than optimal rifle and stay with the mid-range, or have one built before doing so at the 1000y. My primary precision rifle at the moment has a fixed muzzle brake on it for a fast attach suppressor. Any objections to attending this class (not competing) with the suppressor? I doubt many people, including myself, care to have the muzzle brake near them when under the metal roof of the 1000y line so I'm hoping allowing the suppressor would be meet-in-the-middle sort of thing for the class.

At this point in time, we are not quite sure if we are going to allow attendees to actually shoot. Depending on the number of people who show up, this could present a big safety problem. The other issue is of course, having to deal with people using various equipment, some (most) of which may not even be suitable for 1000 yards. We could waste a lot of time trying to get folks on target with their equipment.

This is about wind reading and the idea is for the attendees to bring optics and we demonstrate what the conditions do having a current competitor fire some rounds at the X-ring on the target. We can then see what the conditions did to the bullet and then discuss the various clues that are out there and do it again.

This is much more controlled and safe and very predictable. There are flags, windmeters, spotting scopes and so on.

It is best for you to bring a stool and a spotting scope on a tripod and some writing implements to take notes. And earmuffs and safety glasses, and a brimmed hat.

The match on Sunday is a better time to get on target because everything is geared for that.

 

[Denys]

And sorry, no brakes allowed; the line will most probably be full on Sunday.

 

[tundrawookiee]

Sounds cool. Hopefully I can make this...will definitely check my schedule.

Sent from Kate Beckinsale's closet.

 

[tundrawookiee]

How do we sign up to attend the class? I may have overlooked it but I didn't see anything on the page.

Sent from Kate Beckinsale's closet.

 

[ptd]

Denys, with regards to Bdubb's question about cans on the line during squadded practice and/or matches - is this allowed? I attended the 600yd MR match last month and saw one shooter with a can and when I asked about it I got answers all over the place, from 'its not allowed' (yet there he was on the line), to 'its allowed, just not officially scored aka squadded practice', and to the honest 'I dont know'.

Granted I didn't ask Glenn (he was busy and my interest at that point had moved on) but since you are here and answering I thought I would follow-up on Bdubb's question.

-pd

 

[Denys]

Look for that info to be posted some time next week. We have to get through TSRA first and that's this weekend.

 

[Denys]

What happens at squadded practice is not my concern as long as the Bayou rules are followed. I believe that BRI now allows the use of suppressors at the range, provided you have your paperwork with you. Other NFA-class firearms are not allowed.

Now, as for the NRA-sanctioned match itself, I am not the mid-range match director, but for long range matches I will not allow it; the NRA is very specific on that and so am I.

 

[Blackbrush]

I think this is a great idea. I will try to attend as well. It's surprising to me though that attendees, presumably mostly beginners, are not to shoot in the class but are encouraged to come out the following day and participate in the 1000yd match. Nothing like jumping into the deep end to get your feet wet!

 

[Denys]

The format is not set in stone right now and it also depends on many factors. Let me explain my current reasoning.

I have recruited about a half-dozen of our best, most dependable shooters who are also very helpful towards new shooters to help put on this clinic.

My primary concern is safety and when we get a group of new shooters, we have no clue who they are and what their level of experience is. This is not a boot camp to teach raw recruits to shoot; this is an introduction to NRA Highpower competition followed by an advanced class in "wind reading." I don't think we want to take everyone's time to have Joe try to get on target with his hunting rifle, nor will we have enough people on hand to do that safely.

On the other hand, if we have a couple of shooters put rounds downrange aiming at the X-ring for every shot; people will see where the shot impacts and what the conditions were at the time and start getting a feel for what's going on. We can have the instructor explain the conditions, point out various things and then we all see the results.

My current plan is to have an F-TR shooter and an F-Open shooter side by side shooting at two targets on demand. We also have to man the pits and a pit change takes time, we are talking 1000 yards here and we have to be very safe and the best way to do that is to follow the rules and control the number of firearms on the line.

As for going into the deep end; guess what? We all did that and most of us without the benefit of this class we are presenting here. We had three new competitors this past weekend and they did just fine; they were safe, they got on target and they are now long-range qualified at our club. We do this all the time and a club match is the very best place to shoot that far the first time.

I think you will get a lot out of that class. And bring your rifle and ammo and all your junk, you MIGHT be able to take a few shots at the end of the day. Repeat, MIGHT. But bring your best spotting scope, tripod and stool.

 

[Blackbrush]

As the class is open to non members and you don't know how many will show, I understand those concerns.

I was thinking I'd be more comfortable trying a 300 or a 600yd comp first but what the heck! Maybe I'll qualify before this comes around to get that out of the way.

 

[GeeJ]

I was thinking I'd be more comfortable trying a 300 or a 600yd comp first but what the heck!

"what the heck!" is right. If you're not able to do some mid-range comps before then, you should still shoot this HP comp regardless. It would be a valuable opportunity to gain some valuable experience. Even if you don't finish very high on the leaderboard, you'll might still walk away having learned something(s) that you wouldn't have learned otherwise. But, that's only my opinion and motivation to plunging myself into the deep end.

I'll have to see about getting a spotting scope in the meantime.....

 

[Denys]

Let me put it this way. If your biggest worry is where you end up on the leaderboard at your first LR competition, you have issues. Your main goals are to get on target, shoot safely, provide excellent pit service, have fun and learn stuff.

If it's all about comparing the size of your Johnson against other people's...

If all I cared about was not finishing last when I first started in F-class, I would have given up after my first match. Or second or third. I was the only one shooting a .223 out of an AR at 1000 yards. In fact I was the only idiot shooting F-TR for a few years.

My best advice to you is check your ego at the gate and just come to learn and have fun.

 

[scissorhands]

Wish I was off on Saturdays. Sounds like a good time and great topics. We will see you guys soon..

 

[Denys]

The website at Welcome to website of Bayou Rifles Inc. has been updated with the latest information.

It's a go on May 3rd, I look forward to meeting you there.

 

[Denys]

This will be the only bump here as the response has been excellent.

 

[CGGunnersm8]

Two days late and a dollar short. Maybe i'm reading thru to quick or just a bit tired, but is this open to members only or anyone who registers? Secondly are spectators aloud at the match? I would love to come out and see everything in action. Thanks for any information.

 

[Denys]

Anyone can register. Go to the website and follow the directions. Spectators are not allowed; you must register and pay the nominal fee. Trust me, you will get far more than your money's worth.

 

[Whiskey Tango Foxtrot]

spectators are allowed at regular matches tho..

 

[Denys]

Yes, they are. But this is not a regular match.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

 

[Denys]

The training session was held this past weekend as scheduled.

We had 55 people pre-registered for it and only 3 no-shows which were immediately replaced by people who had not pre-registered but came out anyway.

I can't say enough about the people who put on the training; many of them are members here; Mark Walker, Don Diffey, Matt Davis, Richard Goody, Richard King, David Bailey, Bennett Ford and others.

The attendees had a chance to work the pits during live fire, do scoring duties, and get exposed to everything that goes on in a match. In the afternoon session Mark spent some time going over wind reading techniques, tips and so on and then we broke up into several groups with a shooter and a coach and attendees all around each little group. The shooting began with explanation of shots at first and then the audience got into the act and started making their own wind calls for the shooter and the results would be discussed. For most attendees this was their very first exposure to competition shooting and the question were coming fast and furious.