Great photos, Kraig. Thanks for posting them!
My brother and I (we're actually in MN, Mike) shot another match, yesterday and we took second. We shot 91/30 PU and PEM rifles (original sniper rifles/scopes. Not repros and the same ones we took first place with, last year). I believe the team that beat us was using the 1903A4. However, I think we outscored them at 600 and actually lost it at the 300 yard line. My brother had one zero at 300 from a FTF (still not quite sure how it happened) and he didn't have any practice in before the match. I shoot a lot more often than he does and he actually shot better at 600 than 300, after getting reacquainted with the rifle, despite the wind which was gusting up to 32 mph. In any case, I think that they're all very competitive with each other and would agree that it will usually be determined by the guy(s) with the most time behind the trigger and who have spent the time tuning their rifle/load combo. I have some pretty strong feelings about some of the rules, too. Especially when it comes to what's actually "vintage" (let's not forget that a lot of these Springfields are actually custom guns and there's very little, if anything "vintage" left on them). But, that's a topic for another thread, I guess.
ScharfshutzeK98/Raupleminze,
I have a K98 SSR clone that I hope to shoot in a match in July. I'm really looking forward to it, since it's proving to be very competitive with all my other snipers. The only drawback being the lack of windage adjustment, so I'm forced to hold off the windage. No problem at 300, but it can get a little dicey at 600, especially if the wind is variable. This may be one of the reasons that we're not seeing many of them in the VSM. I also have an original Enfield No.4 (T) that has a Weaver K2.5 on it and I hope to shoot that, as well (or, one of us on the team will get to, anyway. Haven't decided who is shooting what yet, for the next match). But, even with that little Weaver, it will give pretty much any other rifle in it's class a run for it's money. Again, I think it comes down to who is pulling the trigger and how much time they have on it.
John