First Live Comp

[clmayfield]

I have been doing postal and Internet comps for a while. I did my first live comp today and it was a lot of fun. I show up with my 40Xcalibur with NF scope and Eley ammo and got ribbed by some of the guys for my expensive equipment (though the slung-up shooters were sporting some nice equipment).

The match used mini-Palma style targets at 100 yard. Competitors could choose to shoot either F-class style or Palma style (.22LR only).

I really like the live match because I feel it is fundamentally more fair. We are all shooting the same wind conditions and the same distance. In Internet and postal comps, this is not necessarily the case. This point was really proven by the fact that I and one other shooter cleaned the target on two of the stages. On the second stage, he dropped 3 and I dropped 1, which ultimately won me the comp... so my worst target was the one that won me the competition. You can't simulate that over the Internet. I always like to write about conditions when I post scores, because a lot of the targets I am most proud of are not necessarily the ones with the most points or X's, but the ones I did a good job reading a difficult win.

Anyway, our Internet comps are fun, but if you get the chance to shoot a live match, I urge you to take the opportunity.

BTW... the format of the match is called mini-Palma, and it uses targets scaled down to represent shooting at 800, 900, and 1,000 yards. I don't know that this is effective at that, but it is fun.

Here are my targets:

My scores were:
800 yd 150-11X
900 yd 149-8X
1,000 yd 150-7X
Aggregate 449-26X

It was a blast! I think my performance was directly a result of the SH Internet comps, so thanks to Joe and TP for getting me started!

 

[kansas45]

Re: First Live Comp

There isn't enough interest in that kind of competition around here. Our local gun club tried to do a .22 rifle match last year. I was the only person that showed up!
About the only thing I do as far as matches go is the 600 yd. deal @ Red Castle Gun Club near Tulsa. I like it & attend each month whenever I have the time. I shoot F-TR at those.

 

[sinister]

Re: First Live Comp

Bravo! Very nice job.

 

[clmayfield]

Re: First Live Comp

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kansas45</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There isn't enough interest in that kind of competition around here. Our local gun club tried to do a .22 rifle match last year. I was the only person that showed up!
About the only thing I do as far as matches go is the 600 yd. deal @ Red Castle Gun Club near Tulsa. I like it & attend each month whenever I have the time. I shoot F-TR at those.</div></div>

The farthest range around here is 300, so F-class shooters have to shoot 22LR at 100 to stay sharp, hence the interest in this type of match here.

 

[kansas45]

Re: First Live Comp

It's close to a two hour drive to Tulsa from my place. I would join the Red Castle Club if it wasn't so far away. It is a really nice, well kept range with many different types of shooting areas. They have a 1000 yd match two or three times a year, but I haven't tried that yet. I'm not sure if there is one more this year, so it may be next spring before I get to try my hand at the 1000 yd match.

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: First Live Comp

WOW - compared to your internet stuff, looks like you choked on a couple of shots

of course i mean that as a compliment, i can only hope that my best targets equal your worst!

good job, i'm sure you'll nock the center completely out next time.

 

[JoeMartin]

Re: First Live Comp

Nicely done, Carter! Great job of shooting.

I to enjoy the live compititons, not only for the fairness of match conditions at the time they're shot, but I also enjoy visiting with other competitors and exchanging ideas.

I'm happy to hear you feel that our SH matches played a part in your performance. In the end, I think that's what our matches here are really all about.

Again, congrats, and nicely done!

 

[clmayfield]

Re: First Live Comp

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TOP PREDATOR</div><div class="ubbcode-body">WOW - compared to your internet stuff, looks like you choked on a couple of shots

</div></div>

You bring up a good point... how does my Internet stuff compare and how are these targets versus what we use? Here is the comparison:

Target...X Ring....10 Ring.......9 Ring
SH.......1.03......2.0..........4.02
MP800....0.94......1.83.........2.72
MP900....0.89......1.74.........2.58
MP1000...0.74......1.45.........2.16

My scores were able to keep up with what I am doing on the Internet because the range is a true 100. Actually, I didn't take the time to confirm the range, but it is definitely closer than my standard because the dope I use at my standard range is higher by .3 mils.

My shot that was "out" would have still been out with our SH Target, so that was a dropped shot for sure. Also, interestingly, I seemed to be doing a lot of shooting in the 10 but outside of the "X." I don't know why that was, it just was.

It was a lot of fun working with progressively smaller targets. And interesting that I cleaned the smallest target, but not the next to smallest. That is the difference between the Internet and live comps... I would have waited longer for the wind to blow out if I were in an Internet comp situation. This is especially true for Smack the Smiley. I don't shoot STS unless conditions are PERFECT. This is less so for the SH Rimfire comps because these happen every month, so there is a little less pressure.

But in summary, yes, I usually shoot a little better than this, but not by much.

 

[clmayfield]

Re: First Live Comp

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Joe Martin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I to enjoy the live compititons, not only for the fairness of match conditions at the time they're shot, but I also enjoy visiting with other competitors and exchanging ideas.
</div></div>

I definitely got to hang out with the shooters, and that was fun. I started the "Learnings" thread to try and exchange ideas. The fun of the Internet matches is getting to shoot with guys across the country. Honestly, there were only 7 shooters total in this comp and 2 of those were shooting open sights. It is good to have critical mass here.

 

[SmallBoreSnipers]

Re: First Live Comp

They have an any/any comp at my local range. Might look into it. Nicely done Carter!

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: First Live Comp

plus the addition of exchanging ideas here on the hide for the "tactical side" of the spectrum of target shooting / hunting is nice. especially the longer range stuff.

but there's nothing like spending an afternoon with a bunch of shooters in person. the added pressure of having eyes on you ups the ante a bit.

this is another site i've been spending time at: http://www.rimfireshooting.com/ that you may find interesting, they have some comps there that look interesting, or at least some information on "live" comps around the country.

 

[Erik.300ultra]

Re: First Live Comp

Nice shooting Carter. There isn't much in my area for rimfire competitions, lots trap/skeet/clays action though. Go figure.

Erik

 

[wksinatl]

Re: First Live Comp

Nice!
Did you shoot from a bipod or slung up? I need to get a hand-stop for my CMP 40x.

I think there should be WAY more .22 matches like this available at local ranges but they are hard to find around here.

good post....

Keith

 

[JoeMartin]

Re: First Live Comp

I to spend a little time over on Rimfire Shooting, TP. Like here, I like the atmosphere over there as well. Haven't visited there for a'while, and I really don't recall their matches without looking again but I'm sure they have some interesting ones. I'll have to get over there and see what's going on.

It is hard to beat attending a live match. The common interest of those around you really adds to the flavor of the match. I look at our matches as training type matches and the learning thread here is outstanding!

 

[JoeMartin]

Re: First Live Comp

I do want to add one observation about something Carter mentioned in his competition report and posts. This got me to thinking.

Perhaps over the winter we should look at reworking our SH Matches to fit the needs/usage of the live matches and targets being used. By doing so we would be offering (in my humble opinion) a more suitable and helpful set of matches should any of us run up against the standardized NRA Smallbore targets at live matches. Something to think/hash over my friends.

 

[hrt4me]

Re: First Live Comp

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Carter Mayfield</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have been doing postal and Internet comps for a while. I did my first live comp today and it was a lot of fun. I show up with my 40Xcalibur with NF scope and Eley ammo and got ribbed by some of the guys for my expensive equipment (though the slung-up shooters were sporting some nice equipment).

The match used mini-Palma style targets at 100 yard. Competitors could choose to shoot either F-class style or Palma style (.22LR only).

I really like the live match because I feel it is fundamentally more fair. We are all shooting the same wind conditions and the same distance. In Internet and postal comps, this is not necessarily the case. This point was really proven by the fact that I and one other shooter cleaned the target on two of the stages. On the second stage, he dropped 3 and I dropped 1, which ultimately won me the comp... so my worst target was the one that won me the competition. You can't simulate that over the Internet. I always like to write about conditions when I post scores, because a lot of the targets I am most proud of are not necessarily the ones with the most points or X's, but the ones I did a good job reading a difficult win.

Anyway, our Internet comps are fun, but if you get the chance to shoot a live match, I urge you to take the opportunity.

BTW... the format of the match is called mini-Palma, and it uses targets scaled down to represent shooting at 800, 900, and 1,000 yards. I don't know that this is effective at that, but it is fun.

Here are my targets:

My scores were:
800 yd 150-11X
900 yd 149-8X
1,000 yd 150-7X
Aggregate 449-26X

It was a blast! I think my performance was directly a result of the SH Internet comps, so thanks to Joe and TP for getting me started!</div></div>

Where was this match held, and when is the next one?