Target Shooter

1
2 Target Shooter
 The Ultimate
Visual Experience

NEW
Ready to shoot by a turn of the hand

Activating the illuminated dot by cocking the rifle.
For the first time ever, the control of the reticle illumination is connected
to the operation of a rifle: When cocking the R 93 iC, the illuminated
dot is activated. The innovative iC concept reduces the operation of rifle
and riflescope before the shot to just one turn thus supporting both
concentration on the target and relaxation of the body. The new Victory
Varipoint iC product line is available for the following models: M 1,1 -
4 x 24 iC T*, M 1,5 - 6 x 42 iC T*, M 2,5 - 10 x 50 iC T*, M 3 - 12 x 56
iC T*.

New Varipoint Generation with Illumination Control

Further information on:
www.il-control.com

Target Shooter 3
Welcome to the September Issue......................

.......of Target Shooter

Sections
13 South Yorkshire
Shooting - an update 6 Shooting Sport News
by Laurie Holland
10 Shooters Calendar

12 Support ‘your local

gunshop’
21 Breaking
the Mould Pat 2 17 Shooting Black Powder
by Vince Bottomley Pistol by Chris Risebrook

41 New Rimfire Rifle Designs

by Martin Lee
26 My European Rimfire
65 This Smallbore Business
and Air Rifle Benchrest
by Don Brook
Championship
by Carl Boswell 69 Profile on International
Shooting by Hayley Platts

73 Mattersley Steel Challenge

63 My .308 is Dead
Part 2 by Association Pages
Chris Parkin
80 NRA

82 UKBRA

46 Handloading ‘Old 85 UKBR22

Faithful’ the .308
Part 11 87 F- Class
by Laurie Holland 90 Quigley Association

93 Gallery Rifle
58 150th Imperial 97 UKPSA
meeting
by Chris White

4 Target Shooter
 Editor(s).
Carl Boswell and Vince Bottomley
Advertising and Office Manager
email; admin@targetshooter.co.uk
Contributors
Vince Bottomley Tony Saunders Chris White
Laurie Holland Chris Risebrook Carl Boswell
Don Brook Alan Whittle Gwyn Roberts
Ken Hall Les Holgate Hayley Platts
Chris Parkin
Webitorial - September 2010

First an apology – some of you couldn’t download our August issue and we were swamped with
e-mails as a result. Our fancy new software developed a glitch which created difficulties in
accessing the download version of the magazine and to make it worse, on launch day Andy was
rushed into hospital and our IT man Carl was winging is way to Czechslovalia to take part in the
European Benchrest Championships.

Unfortunately, we don’t have any staff to fall back on at Target Shooter – just the three of us and it’s
no use leaving me to mind the shop - I’m still struggling to master my iPad! Of course, it’s not only
you, our loyal readers who were upset – it doesn’t exactly please our advertisers, so we thank you
for your patience and we promise to do better!

Now for the good news – thankfully Andy is out of hospital, Carl is safely back from Czechoslovakia
– with a medal or three and I’m..........still struggling with my iPad! But, at least the download
problem is sorted and we’ll do our best to make sure it doesn’t re-occur.

Now, enjoy your September issue of Target Shooter. It’s packed full of your favourite stuff and
next month – October - we have the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi to look forward to. Our
shooters always pick up their share of medals so let’s hope that Auntie Beeb gives the shooting a
bit more coverage than last time. Don’t be afraid to e-mail the BBC if coverage isn’t up to scratch.

Until next month. Vince, Carl & Andy

Carl Boswell - carl@targetshooter.co.uk and Vince Bottomley - vinceb@targetshooter.co.uk and

Andy Dubreuil - admin@targetshooter.co.uk Copyright © Trinity Digital Publishing Ltd
Disclaimer
The website www.targetshooter.co.uk is part of Target Shooter magazine with all contents of both electronic media copyrighted. No reproduction is permitted unless
written authorisation is provided.
Information, prices and data is believed to be correct at the time of posting on the internet which is on or around the 1st of each month. Advertisements that are firearm
related are from companies or individuals that Target Shooter magazine believes are licensed to hold such firearms and accepts no responsibility if companies or
individuals are not so licensed.
Letters and photographs submitted by members of the public to Target Shooter magazine will be accepted on the basis that the writer has agreed to publication unless
otherwise stated. Target Shooter magazine has no control over the content or ownership of photographs submitted.
The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publishers and relate to specific circumstances within each article. These are the opinions
and experiences of writers using specific equipment, firearms, components and data under controlled conditions. Information contained in the online magazine or on the
website is intended to be used as a guide only and in specific circumstances caution should be used. Target Shooter Magazine does not except any responsibility for
individuals attempting to recreate such testing using any information, data or other materials in its electronic pages.Publishers of Target Shooter magazine.

Target Shooter 5
 Shooting Sport News

A mongst F/TR shooters, there is no greater

subject of discussion than bi-pods. Good
bi-pods are essential but good – i.e. sturdy
Shoot and set a new record in the process.

and wide – bi-pods are also heavy and a

pound extra in the bi-pod usually means a
pound less in the barrel.

The Fito ‘Big Foot’ bi-pod comes in at just over

a kilo and is very rigid and wide. It is a superb
bi-pod and it is also something of a bargain at
around £130.

Osprey Rifles are the stockists and proprietor

Stuart Anselm won first time out with his Big
Foot at the August Blair Athol GBFCA League

S tarting pistol ban! Well, I hadn’t cottoned-on to this one – let’s

hope LOGOC have – otherwise we could
I’m a shooter, writer and I read a good quality have no one to start the races at the 2010
newspaper but, I confess, this one escaped me Olympics! I kid you not – David Brown,
– until I read the Yorkshire Post at the end of July. of UK Athletics said it was “the equivalent
of seizing whistles from football referees”.
Yes, once again ‘knees have been jerked’ On a technical note – the pistol in question
and starting-pistols are now banned. There is an Italian-made 380 blank-firer and, as
was an amnesty apparently – which expired you can see from the pic, is coloured bright
orange. They were legally available via
the internet and an estimated 1500 have
come into the UK but only 220 have been
handed in under the amnesty. Police
claim that they can be converted to fire
live ammunition – and painted black!

The bit that worries me is the ‘can be

converted’ bit – what couldn’t be converted
- if you have the will, the knowledge and
machinery at your disposal? Target
Shooter does not condone such illegal acts
but, once again, a large number of us have
become criminals without doing anything
wrong and, if you missed the amnesty,
you won’t even know! Mind you, 1500 is
an insignificant number compared to the
on June 4 2010 – and if you are now caught Brocock debacle which criminalised thousands!
th

starting a race with one of these pistols,

you will receive a mandatory five-year
sentence for possessing a prohibited weapon.

6 Target Shooter
H annam retirement
I’m sure every UK shooter has heard of Tim
Hannam, suppliers of a vast range of reloading
components and many other shooter-related
goodies. Hannam’s have supported Target
Shooter from the off and I regularly visit to pick
up my reloading components.
Shooters who don’t live within calling distance
will probably mail-order and if you do, you have
50 th ISSF World Shooting Championship
RUAG would like to congratulate all those who
took part in the 50th ISSF World Shooting Cham-
pionship in Germany this month.
The event (which was sponsored by RWS)
took place at the Olympic shooting ranges in
Garching-Hochbrück, Germany. The world’s
best rifle, pistol and clay pigeon shooters from
more than 100 nations tested their abilities here
and provided some exciting days of competition.
Marksmanship, precision and dedication, as
well as the selection of the right ammunition, are
the key factors required to take the title - World
Champion.
The singles medals were a great success for
probably spoken to Pat. Well, now you can put
a face to a voice because this is Pat (holding
the flowers) in the photograph with the rest of
the Tim Hannam team. Although she doesn’t
look anywhere near old enough to retire, that’s
exactly what she did at the end of July.
She has many interests and I’m sure readers
will join us at Target Shooter in wishing Pat and
her husband a long and happy retirement.
RWS shooters – taking a quarter of the medals!
(25 out of 101)
Including 8 Gold (more gold medals than any
other ammunition manufacturer in the singles
competitions)
RWS also did well in the team competitions,
taking 21 of the 95 medals (6 Gold)!
Also a special congratulations to the Great
Britain team who won the 300m Men’s Prone
with Norma Ammunition!
Target Shooter 7
 Lightweight Sport
Competitor Club
Rifle O/S (1)
Division 1 K.KINGSBURY CROYDON R&PC
Division 2 C.HANRAHAN EAST BARNET SC

Lightweight Sport
Competitor Club
Rifle A/S (2)
Division 1 Ms N.MASKERY CHOBHAM & D RC
Division 2 D GUNNER CAMBERLEY R&PC
Division 3 J.SHINE HENDON RC
Division 4 P. WHILE FOUR BY TWO R & PC
Division 5 I.CHADBONE MARLOW R&PC
Division 6 P.WOODS REPTON RC
Division 7 M.SLADE HARROW R&PC
Affiliated to the NSRA, MSBRA, NRA & CSSC -TSA Division 8 M.KAUMANNS HENDON RC
Division 9 D.COOMBES HENDON RC
HENDON RIFLE CLUB Division 10 I.FRASER FOUR BY TWO R & PC
Division 11 L.HUNT HARROW R&PC
Range and Club House Division 12 T.REILLY B.WANDSWORTH RC
Cool Oak Lane, opposite Kinloch Drive, Hendon Division 13 R.THOMAS CHOBHAM & DIST RC
NW9 7NB Division 14 C.MOONEY SPRINGFIELD R&PC
Division 15 R.GRAHAM PETWORTH RC
Hendon Rifle Club was born in 1906 near Brent
LSR “Standard
Cross west London, after World War II the club Pistol” A/S (3)
Competitor Club
was moved to the Welsh Harp a sailing and CHOBHAM & DISTRICT
Division 1 Mrs N.MASKERY
fishing lake about RC
Division 2 D. PHILLIPSON GAINSBOROUGH R&PC
3 miles from Brent Cross shopping centre.
Division 3 M.LAUNDY 1st EALING RC
Division 4 T.REILLY B.WANDSWORTH RC
Because of the handgun ban of 1997 there was
a need for another type of shooting at the club, Precision Gallery
Competitor Club
this is were the Hendon League was born using Rifle O/S (4)
Division 1 D.BESHIRI HENDON RC
the old handgun targets these were going to be
Division 2 B.HOWARD HENDON RC
used together with airguns and various other Division 3 S.NORTH KODAK R&PC
firearms in competitions which is run by Hendon Division 4 A.RICHARDSON FOUR BY TWO R & PC
Rifle Club, this also helps to raises funds. Division 5 I.KELLY EAST BARNET SC

This league has more than 30 clubs country Rapid fire Gallery
Competitor Club
Rifle O/S (5)
wide joining us in competition every season, Division 1 J.SHINE HENDON RC

Further information can be found at the Gallery Rifle - "Std

Competitor Club
Hg" O/S (6)
Hendon Rifle Clubs website,
Division 1 J.SHINE HENDON RC

www.hendonrifleclub.co.uk Black Powder Pistol

Competitor Club
(7)
Division 1 K.KINGSBURY CROYDON R&PC
Kevin Hosey
Division 2 D.GRAHAM FOUR BY TWO R & PC
Hendon League Organiser

8 Target Shooter
 Long Range Air T/Rifle Benchrest @
Competitor Club Competitor Club
Pistol 20yards (8) 50m A/S (17B)
Division 1 M.HARVEY HARROW R&PC Division 2 D.P.SHEPPERD BBC RIFLE CLUB
Division 3 J.BOOTH SPRINGFIELD R&PC
Precision Gallery
Competitor Club
Rifle A/S (9) Long Arm 0·22
Competitor Club
Division 1 J.SHINE HENDON RC Free Pistol (18)
Division 2 O.HOUSSEIN EAST BARNET SC Division 1 K.KINGSBURY CROYDON R&PC

Lightweight Sport T/Rifle Benchrest @

Competitor Club Competitor Club
Rifle Prone (12) 100yds A/S (19B)
Division 1 D.ROYLE DUDLEY RC Division 1 R.W.HODGKINS REPTON RC

L/B Revolver C/F A/Rifle Benchrest @

Competitor Club Competitor Club
(14) 20/25yds A/S (20)
Division 1 C.FISHER SPRINGFIELD R&PC DEDDINGTON & D
Division 1 M.LOADER
Division 2 M.ZALEWSKI SECCO R&PC
Air Pistol @ 10
Competitor Club
Metres (15)
Division 1 K.KINGSBURY CROYDON R&PC
WATERINGBURY & T
Division 2 T.OLIVER
SBRC
Division 3 D.BOYTON COURT RIVERSIDE RC
WATERINGBURY & T
Division 4 A.RICKETTS
SBRC
Division 5 R.TODD 1st EALING RC

LSR Benchrest @
Competitor Club
25yards A/S (16A)
Division 1 D.C.GREAVES DUDLEY RC

T/Rifle Benchrest
Competitor Club
@ 25yds A/S (16B)
DEDDINGTON & DIST
Division 1 R.BANCROFT
R&PC
DEDDINGTON & DIST
Division 2 T.BYAST
R&PC
Division 3 I.PARKER BIDEFORD RIFLE CLUB
Division 4 K.HOSEY HENDON RC
DEDDINGTON & DIST
Division 5 P.HANLEY
R&PC
Division 6 N.JACKSON B.WANDSWORTH RC
Division 7 S.MAKIN EAST BARNET SC
Division 8 M.YATES STANMORE RC

LSR Benchrest @
Competitor Club
50m A/S (17A)
Division 1 P.SADLER PENRHIWPAL SC

T/Rifle Benchrest @
Competitor Club
50m A/S (17B)
Division 1 P.EDWARDS HENDON RC

Target Shooter 9
 Calendar of events over the next few months
If your club or association has events you want to publicise here then email us.
11 Sep NRA Open Day (National Shooting Centre
(NSC), Bisley)
Contact Libby Gendall via the NRA
12 Sep NRA Shooting Club Day (National
Shooting Centre (NSC), Bisley)
Multi-discipline NRA Shooting Club Day. Targets
have been booked on Melville and at 100, 200,
300 and 1000 yards. All disciplines welcome.
18 Sep East of Scotland Meeting (Blair Atholl
(Scotland))
The East of Scotland Open Championships for
2010 are scheduled to take place at Blair Atholl
on Saturday 18 September. The event includes
both TR and F Class and offers discounted
entries for seniors, students and schools. Course
of fire is 2 & 17 at 400, 500 and 600 metres with
a final of 2 & 15 for the top 12 TR shooters and
top 4 F Class. Entry forms will be available in due
course at the Imperial Meeting at Bisley and by
e-mail from baitkenshooting@hotmail.com
http://www.scottishrifleassociation.org.uk/
19 Sep HBSA Open Mid Range Championships
(National Shooting Centre (NSC), Bisley)
AM 300, PM 500: classes for a wide range of
Vintage (BP), Classic (pre-1919) and Veteran
(pre-1946) rifles and for Post- Veteran Early
7.62mm Target Rifles. Practice targets available
on Sat 18 September. Contact Mark Hodgins
NRA
25 Sep to 26 Sep Range Conducting Officer
Course (National Shooting Centre (NSC), Bisley)
Two day course - successful candidates will be
qualified to conduct live firing on MoD or TAVRA
ranges. Contact Maureen Peach via the NRA
26 Sep Somerset SBSA – Open Shoot. (Rifle)
Long Ashton Ranges. Tel. 01275 836442. Email.
julian.withey@btinternet.com
1-3 October: Field Target World Championship,
Hungary more details: http://www.fieldtarget.
hu/ftob2010
more info:fieldtarget@fieldtarget.hu

Welcome to GT Shooting.
The premier shooting sports shop in Surrey

Fullbore & .22LR Optics

Black Power Ammunition
Air Rifles and Pistols Reloading equipment
Used rifles and Pistols and more...

Our premises are located at

53 Chipstead Valley Road, Coulsdon, Surrey, CR5 2RB
www.gtshooting.co.uk

Tel: 020 8660 6843

Fax: 020 8660 6843

10 TargetWe are conveniently situated near the M23 & M25.

Shooter
Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 10.00am - 5.30pm
 Target Shooter 11
 ‘Support your local gunshop’
Portsmouth Gun Centre
In 1963, Mr David Crabtree founded the business
– ‘Ophir Antiques’. This was operated as a retail
premises, specialising in antique arms and
armour.
David’s son, Steve Crabtree followed in his
Father’s footsteps and joined the business in
1972. Steve added much to his Father’s already
growing business, including a strong passion for
all things shooting but, predominantly he added
his vast knowledge of modern firearms. As this
area of the business grew, ‘Portsmouth Gun
Centre’ was born.
Following the sad event of his father’s passing in
1982, Steve decided to streamline the business
and specialise only in modern firearms. As the
change took hold, the need arose for a larger
store, and four years later, the premises
underwent a full refurbishment to accommodate
a larger stock holding as the need of the business
required.
In 2010, the business is in its 47th year of trading.
Portsmouth Gun centre services and supplies
all modern shooting disciplines. Those services
included carrying a stock of all the leading
brands of rifles, pistols, shotguns, airguns and
black-powder weapons. The business can deal
with enquiries from customers and shooters alike.
Complimenting the vast range of firearms,
Portsmouth Gun Centre also carries a large
amount of accessories, ammunition, clothing
and miscellaneous shooting equipment. Steve
Crabtree’s 38 years of experience in the gun
trade have seen him constantly and confidentally
satisfying his customers demands. Steve is
always available for considered, friendly advice
on any aspect of shooting, security or firearms
law.
Situated in the heart of Portsmouth, Portsmouth
Gun Centre is located on the main London Road
linking the retail area of North End to Hilsea,
where you can join any of the local major
motorways. The shop is just a few minutes from
the busy M27 and there is ample on road parking
outside.

Portsmouth Gun Centre Ltd

295 London Road
North End
Portsmouth
PO2 9HF
Opening Times Tel 02392 660574
Mon 9.30 - 5.30 Fax 02392 644666
Tues Closed
Wed Closed E-mail sales@portsmouthguncentre.com
Thur 9.30 - 5.30 Website www.portsmouthguncentre.com
Fri 9.30 - 5.30
Sat 9.30 - 5.30
We stock a full range of Rifles, Pistols, Air Guns, Shotguns, Ammunition,
Reloading Equipment and Accessories. All major brands stocked including BSA,
CZ, Air Arms, Marlin, Ruger, Umarex, Uberti, Cometa, Pedersoli, Berreta, Lincoln,
Webley, Pedersoli, etc.

12 Target Shooter
 SOUTH YORKSHIRE SHOOTING SUPPLIES:
AN UPDATE
by Laurie Holland
Above - Semi-custom Remington 700SPS Varmint in the AICS stock
A long, long time ago I worked in what was then
only half jokingly nicknamed King Arthur’s Socialist
Republic of South Yorkshire (Arthur Scargill,
President of the National Union of Minework-
ers). Back then, it was Jekyll and Hyde country –
negotiate a bend in the road and you’d lurch from
lovely rural vista to industrial hellhole: coke ovens,
quarries, decrepit workshops, and of course the
pit-heaps – ugly man-made black toxic hills
scattered everywhere. In its heartland, the Dearne
Valley was legendary for deprivation, crime and
vandalism, its mines closed long before Mrs
Thatcher arrived, entire communities on the dole.
When I left South Yorks, I never expected that I’d
ever look forward to revisiting this area northeast of
Sheffield, but millions of pounds of public and private
investment have transformed it. New roads and neat
building developments nestle in lush countryside
with nary a pit-heap to be seen, old mineral
workings flooded and turned into nature reserves.
Just down the road from one such birdwatcher’s
paradise you’ll find Everill Gate Farm, home of South
Yorkshire Shooting Supplies and its proprietors
Roger and Sheila Francis.
SYSS has long been known as the outfit to talk
to about modified Ruger 10-22s whether for
competition or vermin control, amongst other notable
feats introducing lightweight carbon fibre composite
barrels and exotic ergonomic stocks for these rifles
to British shooters. The 10-22 type is probably what
most people still associate with the company, and
surely SYSS remains one of the best, more likely the
best, to approach if you want a really good example.
I say ‘type’ as there isn’t a Ruger component in
today’s custom built versions, the action parts made
in the UK to SYSS’ specifications, assembled and
hand-fitted in its workshop. One feels that this is still
Roger’s passion, never happier than when putting
one together – it’s what he chose to cradle when
I persuaded him to pose for a photograph in the
courtyard, more on that in a minute. Roger
maintains that he’s in no way a gunsmith, just
somebody who knows how to assemble these rifles
and tinker a bit with some other makes, but that’s
the man being modest. ‘Other makes’ include Marlin
leverguns transformed through various
improvements including a reduced power ejector
spring, reprofiling the hammer and extractor, and
fitting a vastly improved trigger for much faster,
slicker and more reliable operation. Mentioning
trigger improvements, SYSS is a good place to
enquire as they provide kits for many different rifle
makes and models including fitting if needed. For
instance, every new Cz452 rimfire SYSS supplies
has an improved trigger assembly set at 2lb pull
already fitted. In many cases, imported American
kits have been recently replaced by British sourced
components.
A recent, very successful innovation is ‘semi-custom’
Remington 700s. Take one new Remy PSS or SPS,
smooth the bolt rails, reface and recrown the barrel,
and fettle / adjust the trigger for a reduced weight
and crisper pull. It becomes a nicer handling and
better shooting rifle straight off, but why stop there
if you’d like a rifle that looks and handles better, or
need a detachable box magazine? So, swap the
factory stock for one of several options, and you
have what Roger calls ‘a sensible rifle at a sensible
price’ for the club or field shooter. The favoured
starting point is a heavy barrel 700SPS Varmint or
Tactical rifle. AICS and Bell & Carlsson stocks are
customer favourites, although others are available.
A fettled and AICS stocked SPS 26” barrel Varmint
works out at £1,250 with plain muzzle, another £50
if screwcut for a moderator, making an affordable
but accurate rifle. Actually, when you consider that
Target Shooter 13
 action Remington actions, even a quick
Roger with one of his custom .22 semi-auto race examination showing they are well made
guns and very rigid with pillar-bedding. What
really excites the SYSS team though is a
new Manners design that has a moulded-in
Badger Ordnance ‘mini-chassis’ that both
beds the action and accepts AICS 5 and
10-round box magazines – possibly arrived
by the time you read this.

Alchemy and Valkyrie

Mention recrowning and machining bolt
knobs and we’re into lathes and milling
machines and gunsmithing. The last time I’d
visited, Dave Wylde had just joined Roger
and Sheila as a part-time gunsmith doing a
couple of days a week, four days elsewhere
making repro Victorian gas lamps as his
day job. (I kid you not!) That work-time split
has now been reversed, additional and
upgraded workshop machinery installed,
and Dave builds custom rifles alongside
the semi-custom work, also any general
gunsmithing jobs needed. I was most
impressed by the number and range of
makes of quality barrels on hand, so a quick
turnaround can often be obtained. So far,
most rifles have been built on new Remy
700, Lawton and Surgeon actions, but we
now have SYSS’ own design, the ‘Alchemy’,
the first few examples just arrived. This is a
workmanlike looking short-action twin-lug
job with a Remington 700 ‘footprint’ to
allow the use of the many custom stocks and
precision trigger assemblies available for

the usual asking price for the AICS is £550 – if you

can find one – that’s quite a bargain! It includes a
detachable box magazine facility, but if you want one
installed on a sporter stock, SYSS will supply new
custom bottom metal and install it for you too. An
innovation that I suspect is unique is the SYSS
modified 10-round AICS magazine that feeds
.223R rounds smoothly – starting at .308W length,
these magazines handle over-SAAMI length .223
cartridges loaded with 80gn bullets. Then you
can have the nasty little Remy fly’s eye bolt knob Dave with a fettled
machined off and replaced by a nice large, smooth Remington 700SPS
SYSS screw-on conical number; there’s the SYSS Tactical in a
Tactical Picatinny scope rail. OK, you get the Manners GAT
picture .......only, watch the budget! thumbhole stock

Another new product is American Tom Manners’

synthetic thumbhole configured stocks for short-

14 Target Shooter

this action. The receiver and separate scope rail
are stainless, the bolt spiral fluted carbon steel;
Sako-type extractor; side-lever bolt-stop and release.
Again, it is entirely British in design and manufacture.
It will be available in single-shot and repeater forms,
left and right hand, and the customer can specify bolt
to receiver clearance depending on application from
a very tight one or two thou’ up to slacker ‘tactical’
configurations. As well as being used in Dave’s new
builds, they’ll be offered to other gunsmiths at an
‘attractive price’.
Dave is also the ‘Duracoating man’, and a very good
job he does too. As a one-time professional custom
spray-painter he knows how to get a good result
starting with meticulous preparation, to which end
a full suite of sand-blasting and cleaning machines
has been installed as well as the necessary ovens.
Things are moving on apace here too. Dave is in
the process of setting up his own gunsmithing /
rifle building business called Valkyrie Arms and will
trade independently in due course, probably around
the end of this year. He’ll remain at Everill Gate farm
and continue to collaborate closely with Roger, but
There is no doubt about whose action this is
A couple of the new ‘Alchemy’ actions
build up the custom new build side of the work as
well as offering do-anything gunsmithing services on
a by appointment basis. Asking him what he plans
to work with, he’ll continue with the existing actions
including the new ‘Alchemy’, add the superb new
single-shot action from Scottish gunsmith Russ
Gall as his top of the range option, and explore
developing the popular Tikka T3 action. Other plans
include building left-hand rifles, a market he feels
has been largely ignored, and specialist Section
1 shotgun work, nobody doing this currently in the
north of England.
For further information visit SYSS’ comprehensive
website (www.rimfiremagic.co.uk) or telephone
01226 751321. If you want to visit, please note that
the retail gunshop is only open on Thursday, Friday
and Saturday due to workshop commitments. Oh,
the photographs? Point a camera at Roger and he
undergoes a personality change. Serious, or what?
And ... it seems Mr Wylde is out of the same mould.
Really, they are very, very nice helpful friendly guys
.... despite appearances!
Target Shooter 15
 Tel/Fax 01722782432
Email; ags.westlake@virgin.net/ Website; www.westlakeengineering.com

The Taurus ML Revolver is converted from a Taurus .357 Magnum Long Barrelled Revolver.
The cylinder is removed and a Yoke extension fitted, this contains the spring loaded
plunger that frees the action when the yoke is closed. As this extension cannot be removed,
it prevents the re-fitting of the original cylinder. The Barrel is shortened to approximately 5
¼ inches and the wristbrace is removed.
A new cylinder is made which has pockets for shotgun primers at the rear with a small
flash hole through into the chamber at the front. The chamber is made to accept .357” lead
wadcutter bullets. The conversion of your pistol costs £330.00. Extra Cylinders are £180.00
each. If you do not have a pistol I can order a new pistol from the Importers.

16 Target Shooter
 Shooting the Black Powder Pistol
Part 8 - Harrington & Richardson
by Chris Risebrook
Frank Wesson was the younger brother of
Daniel B. Wesson of Smith & Wesson fame,
and Edward Wesson, another rifle maker. He
started business in 1859 and went into
partnership with his nephew Gilbert Harrington
in 1871. Harrington bought him out in 1874 and,
with another of Wesson’s employees, formed
Harrington & Richardson in 1875. By 1880,
the company concentrated on the “American”
revolver, which introduced the basic double
action lockwork which employed a separate
sear behind the trigger,pivoting on the rear
pin of the trigger guard. This design was both
simple and inexpensive to produce. The
“American” remained in production until the
Second World War. It is estimated that over two
million American and Young America revolvers
were made from 1883 to 1940. Originally made
in rimfire calibers, later models were also made
in .32, .38 and .44 centrefire. By 1940, H&R
were concentrating on hinged frame revolv-
ers, both for the home market and for service
use. While never adopted as military standard,
many of these weapons were issued to guards
and other non-combatants, thus freeing issue
weapons for front line troops.
The two revolvers shown in photo No1 are both
.32 rimfire, and it is clear that the basic design
can simply be pantographed up or down to
accomodate different size cartridges. The
earliest advert I have found so far for these guns
is in a catalogue of J.H. Johnston of Pittsburgh
in 1889, and a Sears Roebuck catalogue of
1908 offered a wide variety in .22 and centrefire
calibres, and this basic design was still being
offered well into the 1960s. The smaller revolver
has a 2inch barrel and is a five shot. Hopefully,
photo 2 will show the differences in the
markings on the top straps. Both have octagonal
barrels with the name and address of the
Company on the left side and “.32 rimfire” on the
smaller gun. The larger revolver is a six shot with a
2.5 inch barrel. These .32 rimfire cartridges came in
various lengths, namely extra short, short,
long,long rifle and extra long. Most of them
went out of production around 1920, but a few
lingered on until the 1970s. Apparantly .32 extra
long was quite adequate for use on small game
when used in a rifle. Bearing in mind these guns
must have been built at rock bottom prices, their
quality is remarkably good and the plating
has lasted very well. The grips appear to be
moulded vulcanite or similar. In the 1960s,
these solid frame revolvers were advertised
for less than $30, about one third of the price of
a Smith & Wesson.
To load, cartridges are fed singly into the
chamber via the cut-out on the right hand side,
there is no hinged gate to hold them in, so the
chambers must have been fairly tightly bored.
To unload, you have the option of picking out
the empties with your fingers from the cut out, or
to use the cylinder pin as the ejector rod. To do
this, you press the small catch in the front of the
frame - just visible in photo 3, pull the cylinder
pin forward, thus freeing the cylinder, and use
the cylinder pin to push out the empties one by
one. Not very practical in a gunfight!
The single action trigger pull in both guns is
remarkably good, as is the double actin in the
larger gun. The double action pull in the small
gun is impossibly heavy, and the grip is so tiny,
Target Shooter 17
you just can’t get a proper grip on the trigger. the famous single shot rifle. This company was
In practice, it must have been used (if at all) sold to Marlin in 2000, and they in turn were
as a single action. Which brings us to the bought by Remington in 2007. The company
intended use of these guns. The are the natural imports various shotguns, but still makes the
successors to the earlier so called “suicide single shot rifle in a plethora of calibres from
specials” or “Saturday night specials”; (H&R .22WMR to 45-70, and practically everything
made their fair share of these), along with in between, together with interchangeable
Iver Johnson, Hopkins & Allen and even Colt. barrels, shotgun barrels and muzzleloading
All those guns were solid frame, but were barrels as Harrington & Richardson and New
invariably single action only with spur triggers. England Firearms.
Rather like the derringers before them, their
value was probably as a deterrent v. In a way,
these are a continuation and a development of
the muff pistols and derringers of earlier times,
and were themselves replaced by the small
calibre European autos pioneered by Browning,
Bayard, Clement etc.
Over the years H&R have either made or
imported a vast variety of weapons, including
both rifles and shotguns, and their most popular
product must be the single shot break open
rifle which is still made today in a bewildering
variety of calibres and formats. In the 1960s,
H&R was acquired by the Rowe family and went
out of business in 1986, but a new company,
H&R 1871 was formed in 1991, specialising in
18 Target Shooter
•
WMS Practice days and rifle shooting events for individuals,
gun clubs and professional clients
• Corporate days and events for companies
• Rifle, ammunition and product testing for manufacturers
• Product launches for manufacturers and importers
• Specific training courses such as Mountain Rifle, African
Rifle and Driven Big Game for individuals and groups who
want to properly prepare for hunting trips
• Practice and training facilities for Military, Police and
security companies

Jo, Al and the GGC Gang shot here!

You can too. Call me to book...
Individuals and groups for practice, instruction, testing and FUN!
www.wms-firearmstraining.org
or call Andrew Venables on 07767 365804 / 01686 440782
or email on andrewvenables@aol.com

www.FoxFirearmsUK.com
Tel: 0161 430 8278 or 07941 958464
PUTTING SHOOTING FIRST

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO SEE THE VERY BEST VALUE CUSTOM PRECISION RIFLES FOR TR, MATCH,
F-CLASS, AND BENCH-REST—WE ARE NOW SELLING A FULL RANGE OF HARRELL PRODUCTS
WE STOCK HUNTING RIFLES BY COOPER, KIMBER AND PFEIFER AND COMPETITION-WINNING RIFLES
FROM KELBLY AND KEPPELER, AND ARE TRADE AGENTS FOR THE
SUPERB BARNARD ACTIONS, AND RECORD-BREAKING TRUE-FLITE AND BARTLEIN BARRELS

WE ALSO STOCK PROFESSIONAL BORESCOPES (from £533) AND A RANGE OF HIGH-POWER SCOPES
FOR COMPETITION AT AMAZING PRICES (eg 8-32X50 WITH 30mm TUBES FROM £100) ALONG WITH
STUNNING BINOCULARS AND SPOTTING SCOPES

SEB LAMBANG BENCH RESTS AND ACCESSORIES ARE THE BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE. WE STOCK HIS
FULL RANGE AT LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICES, ALONG WITH THE BUDGET
CALDWELL RANGE- BERGER BULLETS TO YOUR DOOR- EXPORT TO EUROPE, NO PROBLEM!
SEE WEBSITE FOR FULL SPECIFICATIONS AND CURRENT STOCKLIST
EVERYTHING WE IMPORT IS BY FAR THE BEST VALUE IN THE UK
Target Shooter 19
 Forster Co-Ax Press
The simplest, most powerful and most accurate press on the market,
bar none.
The press delivers perfect alignment of the die and the case because the
shell holder jaws are designed to float with the die, thereby
permitting the case to center precisely in the die.
Dual floating guide rods ensure perfect alignment.

Forster Benchrest Reloading Dies

The perfect dies for benchrest and target
shooters seeking the very best accuracy.

Case Trimmer
Primer Seater
Cartridge & Case
Inspector

Case Neck Graphiter

The Outside Neck Turner Accessory is used with

the Original Case Trimmer. The Forster Outside Neck Turner is
an invaluable aid in maintaining a uniform thickness in the neck
walls of your cartridge cases.

For the full range of Forster Products visit www.forsterproducts.com

UK distributor of Forster Products
Tim Hannam The Reloading Specialists
Peckfield Lodge, Great North Rd, South Milford, Leeds, LS25 5LJ
Tel: 01977 681639 Fax: 01977 684272 email: sales@timhannam.com

20 Target Shooter
Breaking the mould – pt2

by Vince Bottomley
Theory or fact – can a 223 really compete with a 308 at extreme ranges? Laurie is about to
find out.
Last month, our ballistics guru and F/TR see if theory is matched by fact – on range.
shooter Laurie Holland set out the case
for a 223 that could stay with a 308 – all the Laurie has a leaning towards rifles based on the
way to 1000 yards. Sceptical? So am I but M16/AR15 platform and already uses an Eliseo
now it’s my job to put the rifle together and tube gun in F/TR and, if it had been possible to

The McRees butt can be configured to suit most disciplines and shooters

Target Shooter 21
 There are three possible fore-ends. Here are two – two-inch and three-inch wide for
benchrest or you could also have a ‘sporter’ suitable for a tactical-style rifle. Laurie will use
the narrower one
obtain another Eliseo chassis, I suspect Laurie CNC finish despite several coats of paint. It’s a
would have gone down that route. Unfortunately vast improvement and a really nice job to boot!
for UK shooters, Gary Eliseo is now too busy Continuing the cosmetic theme, Laurie has
fulfilling his American orders and has no time matched the black stock with one of Osprey
to export so, for the 223, Laurie has chosen a Rifle’s custom bolts for his Savage target
McRees Precision stock – which we reviewed action, so the whole thing is now looking
in an earlier edition of Target Shooter. If you quite smart – or it will be when I’ve done my
missed it, the McRees is an American made CNC bit and fitted the barrel! A black Picatinny
machined ‘modular’ stock which is available Ken Farrell tapered rail completes the job.
as a ‘drop-in’ for most popular (and some not
so popular) actions. Laurie’s stock came from With a 90 grain bullet in a 223, we can’t afford
North West Custom Parts in Manchester www. to compromise case-capacity, so our specimen
nwcustomparts.com round is a similar length to a 308 and this was
sent to Dave Kiff of Pacific Tool & Gauge for the
The McRees offers a choice of fore-end and special reamer, which has a whopping quarter-
butt to suit your particular game - be it tactical, inch freebore to accommodate the needle-like
benchrest, F Class etc. The stocks come ‘in the Berger VLD bullet. We will also be running a
white’, painted or anodised. Laurie’s is anodised ‘no-turn’ neck to get the very best performance
– or should I say – was! It was a rather gaudy out of our cartridge without infringing any rules.
pink and gold affair and not surprisingly, Laurie’s (We covered the ‘no-turn neck/tight neck’ in last
first job was to send it off to South Yorkshire month’s Target Shooter which is still available
Shooting Supplies for Dave Wilde to give it a on-line via our home page).
coat or three of black DuraCoat©.
Although the Savage target action comes
SYSS are quickly becoming the ‘industry complete with a barrel-nut, we will not be
standard’ amongst shooters in the know and using it. Our barrel will be a full 1.25 inches at
as with most things, meticulous preparation is the breech and a competition recoil-lug will be
the key. In this case, Dave took no chances used. The six-groove barrel is not too heavy
and removed the anodising by sand-blasting to and is what True Flite list as a Heavy Palma.
ensure a proper key for the Duracoat. The result The McRees stock is quite heavy however so
is outstanding, with the stock retaining its crisp we need to bear in mind the 18lb 2oz weight
22 Target Shooter
These bolts just don’t look nice – they incorporate an Osprey mod. which smoothes out
bolt-lift to give that custom action feel
limit for the F/TR class. The barrel will be initially Parker Hale style Versa Pod is comfortably inside
cut to 31 inches and finished with a recessed the 18lb 2oz weight limit for F/TR. The bi-pod
crown. Should we need to save a few ounces, weighs less than a pound - with a low recoiling/
we can always shorten the barrel an inch or two. low torque cartridge like the 223 Rem. we don’t
Although the McRees stock may initially seem have to resort to a two-pound Sinclair contraption.
expensive, don’t forget it is a true drop-in
so you don’t have to pay for bedding ‘which If needed, we could have saved a few more
could easily cost £250. Simply do up the ounces on the stock by paring-down the
three bedding screws and it’s ready to shoot! aluminium here and there but it’s nice not to have
It really was that easy and all screw-holes to ‘butcher’ it and spoil our Duracoat finish. It will
lined-up perfectly – not always the case with some be up to Laurie now to find out if his theories hold
so-called ‘drop in’ stocks. If you were building a good in the real world of F/TR competition so I’ll
tactical rig, you could spec. the magazine-fed let Laurie finish off this article in his own words.
version which uses the AI magazines.

All-up weight, with an 8-32 Sightron scope and a

Here’s our barrelled-action with True-Flite Heavy Palma profile barrel

Target Shooter 23
 Introducing Kelbly’s Tactical Rifles.
bringing benchrest precision to the tactical
market. With loads of options to choose from,
and pricing that shatters the competitors.

Introducing the first hunting and tactical scopes

with 10 times power ratio on a variable scope.
March 1x-10x-24mm and 2.5x-25x-42mm. 1/4” clicks
and 25 MOA per revolution. All lenses in scopes are
cemented in place, and do not rely on O rings to hold
point of aim. Argon gas purged.
Kelbly 179mmX130mm 6/16/10 7:16 AM Page 1

Introducing Kelbly’s Tactical Rifles.

bringing benchrest precision to the tactical
market. With loads of options to choose from,
and pricing that shatters the competitors.

Introducing the first hunting and tactical scopes

with 10 times power ratio on a variable scope.
March 1x-10x-24mm and 2.5x-25x-42mm. 1/4” clicks
and 25 MOA per revolution. All lenses in scopes are
cemented in place, and do not rely on O rings to hold
point of aim. Argon gas purged.

Open Season Ad 23/4/10 14:58 Page 1

PGW Timberwolf .338 Lapua

PGW Coyote 7.62

The worlds ultimate sniper weapon systems

Also available
KG mil-spec weapon cleaners • Carbon remover • Copper remover • Bore conditioner • Gun oil • Dry lubricants • Solvent & Degreaser

Open Season Ltd

Oxford, UK
24 Target Shooter GSM: + 44 (0) 7771 607481 | E mail: rupert@openseasonltd.com | Web: www.openseasonltd.com
 Tel: 0161 408 3555
Mob: 07861 399066
e-mail: stuart@ospreyrifles.com
URL: www.ospreyrifles.com

Osprey Rifles - Savage & F T/R Specialists

Whether you want a factory rifle or a custom built offering give us a call. Record
breaking, competition proved rifles built on Savage actions for less than £2,000.
Other actions supplied - the choice is yours!
Bartlein, Trueflite, Broughton & Lilja barrels supplied and fitted.
Stockists of F T/R Bipods by Sinclair and Fito Force of Spain.

Target Shooter 25
European Rimfire and Air Rifle Benchrest
Championship 2010 - Plzen, Czech Republic

By Carl Boswell
It is staggering how a few benchrest competitions championships in 2007 and 2008 with more
- held over nine days - can tire you but, this is countries taking part and the sport growing though
exactly how I feel as the European Championship out Europe. Air Rifle Benchrest is now developing
comes to a close. It’s not just about catching up in Australia, Bulgaria and soon Finland (As seen in
with old and new mates......well it is but that is
another story! It’s also about the amount of focus
and concentration you need to keep - over an
extensive period of time - when you are shooting
almost every day.

The next few pages will provide a flavor of the

various events, with details of the scoring via
the scores tables, which show what individual
shooters have achieved! (Something I found
fascinating about this particular championship, as
no one country really dominated the medals tables
throughout the event).

They say that “Every picture paints a thousand

words” and in that vein, I want to provide you with
some of the many pictures taken, representing a
good diary of the events that took place. There
are some great shots - pardon the pun - that a lot
of teams have contributed to but only a selection
are included here because of space. There are
plenty more, with scores, on the ERABSF website
at http://www.erabsf.org/home.htm

Things have moved on since the previous

26 Target Shooter
The UK Team...... most of as some of the air rifle guys had gone home after
their match
the latest world postal diary).

Taking part in the European Championship

this year was Australia, South Africa,
Russia,Bulgaria, Italy, Czech Republic, Ireland,
United Kingdom, Germany and Finland - a much
wider spread of countries than the previous
European Championship in 2007 where we had
only five countries participating. A few could not
make it this year, possibly to do with the present
economic climate, but these countries are
still part of the ERABSF and shoot with us. It
would be great to see Malta, Holland, Portugal,
Air rifle 1st to 3rd place individual over the Hungary and Belgium in addition to those
three matches already mentioned and maybe we will do next

The medal winning Irish

Team - most of......

PIC 2 plan

Target Shooter 27
 The Italian and part of the Finnish Team
well – a bit obvious maybe but it is all about who
makes the first mistake or has not prepared for
a variety of conditions. South Africa did well on
the first and second days, as did the UK but the
Russian team knocked us off our pedestal on the
second day with a series of amazing scores. (A
nice bunch of blokes, who I hope to see at the
World Championship - they will shake things up a
bit! So Alexie, if you are reading this, things are
all open and we hope to see you next year in the
USA). This was quite enlightening, as all of us had
to up our game to remain in the overall standing
and medal tables - which we did, as you can see

Italian Silver on the HV Rimfire

The Russian Team - medal winners all

year at the second World Championship in the
USA.

The UK team arrived a few days early to

acclimatize. After practice, we thought we had
everything figured out as it was sunny and the
wind patterns were ‘sussed’. A bit of a mistake,
as the three days of the air rifle events were all
different wind-wise and shooters had to adapt
each day and re-adapt as conditions changed
throughout the day – on one particular day from
blazing sun, to torrential rain, to thunderstorms
and then back to sunny conditions again.

The wind could be a bit of a pig as well! Not easy

target-shooting but very competitive as it was open
to anyone who could read the conditions and shoot

28 Target Shooter
 say that all of us had to
‘condition’ ourselves to the
characteristics of the range
would be an understatement.
Difficult to shoot, yes but this
is what made the whole event
lively! The scores on most
days shooting were within
one point on the leader board,
Rotating union even in some cases within a
few X counts.
PIC 9 finished prop
One person who did stand out
was Scott Grayson. At sixteen
years of age he triumphed
over his own doubts and
became the winner I knew he
could be in both air rifle and
The South African Team

from the scores table. The UK won

both the overall European Champion
titles for air rifle!

The rimfire events were pretty similar,

with difficult conditions to read in
the hot sun and dry wind. This was
especially the case on the 50m
range, where the flags were giving a
particular indication. There was no
mirage and the bullets were hitting
the top of the target diagram. To
The German Team

rimfire. He will be one to watch

over the coming years........

The 25m rimfire is one of

those competitions that
people think is easy. Fair
enough, there were a few
750s, with shooters hunting
for Xs but there was only a
small minority achieving this
- with only one such score
in the Light Varmint match.
The Heavy Varmint match
provided few more shooters
achieving the top score, with
Scott Grayson again getting
gold with an amazing 750 with
55 X counts. (Using my rifle
The Australian Team - Richard Lightfoot right coming by the way).
3rd in the HV rimfire
The 50m matches were much
Target Shooter 29
 The UK team winning the HV Team Gold - we won all the golds in this match

more difficult, as the conditions - as a stated before

- were very difficult to read. They were within a few
points of each other with only a few 250 scores in
both matches. One thing I will say at this point -

Above - all of the juniors and below Scott

Grayson, a fine young shot

Your scribe with my second European Title

30 Target Shooter
A gallery of events
Yes its a rifle.............Doh!
never become complacent when you are leading
the board. This happened to me in the Light
Varmint match with one target to go - I went
and lost five points through frustration with the
conditions, putting me in second place. Infuriating!
But this emotion did not last, thankfully!
After that, I just had to come back in the Heavy
Varmint match and I did, through simply enjoying
what I was doing, rather than wanting the score too
much – enjoy the shot and move on! I had a fault
with the rifle on the last card with the trigger not
engaging properly and I had one misfire - which
hit a sighter target fortunately - someone up there
liked me on that day!
As for the UK team, they worked as a team and I
am extremely proud of their accomplishments, as I
am sure all of the various countries team captains
are. We all had our successes, close calls and
Target Shooter 31
 European and World Cup Championship Medals table the scoring was perfect and
Allocation made on the basis of ONE medal for individuals and ONE for teams from start to finish with only
European Championship Gold Silver  Bronze Championship Title one protest throughout the
Bulgaria
whole championship (which
Czech Republic 1 1 1
Finland 1 1 2 was, incidentally, rejected).
Germany 3 2 4
Ireland 1 1 With teams having
Italy 4 5 3 X2 Rimfire Sporter & LV organised transfers from
Russia 4 1 Prague airport, the hotel
United Kingdom 6 7 6 X2 Air Rifle & Rimfire HV organised at a much
World Cup Championship Gold Silver  Bronze Championship Title reduced price for
Australia 1
competitors (it was superb
Bulgaria
Czech Republic 1 1 1
hotel as well), to the
Finland 1 1 2 ease of passing through
Germany 3 2 4 customs (as they had been
Ireland 1 1 warned we were coming)
Italy 4 5 3 X2 Rimfire Sporter & LV all helped the event ot run
Russia 3 1 1 smoothly. It only took thirty
South Africa 1 1 minutes to book in our rifles
United Kingdom 5 7 4 X2 Air Rifle & Rimfire HV
and get ourselves into the
Juniors
Germany 2 2 3
‘duty free’. The team that
South Africa 1 1 4 organized this from the
United Kingdom 11 11 7 Czech CBRA were excellent
nightmares on the range. I can honestly say that I Name Score X
am proud of all of the UK team’s accomplishments, Rimfire Sporter 25m
especially on the final key Heavy Varmint match, Aldo Nardon 747 33
where we took every gold medal. This made my Giuseppe Russo 746 39
Hans-Jo Domaschk 746 33
whole year as it shows that we, as a nation, have
Andrea Foschi 743 43
really progressed in this sport and we are very Markus Feldmann 741 36
competitive on the world stage. Rimfire Sporter 50m
Giuseppe Russo 738 34
I know that all who attended would agree that Uli Kröll 735 31
this championship was extremely well organised Roberto Giarletta 734 26
and went off without a hitch. Ladislav Ninger, the Martin Menke 733 29
Markus Feldmann 729 27
Chairman of the ERABSF and match director
Rimfire Light Vamint 25m
was very pleased with the response to the event.
Martin Menke 750 32
I think the success of the event was due to his Risto Murisoja 749 48
management of it and everything went smoothly - Aldo Nardon 749 45
Luca Antonello 748 50
Name Score X
Carl Boswell 748 48
Air Rifle Light Vamint Rimfire Light Vamint 50m
Niekie Van Dyke 721 12 Luca Antonello 745 45
Carl Boswell 720 18 Carl Boswell 744 40
Scott Grayson 719 12 Aldo Nardon 744 34
Graham Freeman 715 15 Martin Menke 740 30
Robin Brown 711 10 Robert Rafter 739 33
Air Rifle Heavy Vamint A Rimfire Heavy Vamint 25m
Stepan Morshchagin 733 21 Scott Grayson 750 55
Alexey Soldatov 731 16 Luca Antonello 750 50
Scott Grayson 723 19 Herman Prossel 750 48
Ron Harding 722 17 Jan Durdak 750 43
Graham Freeman 722 10 Carl Boswell 750 39
Air Rifle Heavy Vamint B Rimfire Heavy Vamint 50m
Carl Boswell 736 23 Carl Boswell 745 36
Graham Freeman 735 13 Luca Antonello 743 43
Stepan Morshchagin 731 22 Richard Lightfoot 743 38
Ron Harding 730 17 Scott Grayson 742 34
Alan Grayson 729 25 Markus Feldmann 741 38

32 Target Shooter

Another gallery of events
in every way. Superb!
I’m saving space for pictures and results tables, so
I hope this brief account has given you a flavor of
what was a very intense and competitive series of
matches that led to medals but more importantly
European titles, with a few World Cup titles thrown
Would you tell this guy his scoring was
wrong????????????? The match
director !!
in to boot. All I can say is that I hope each of the
team captains were as proud of their team as I
was of mine. For some, it was their first time at an
international, for some the first time shooting
rimfire and others because they just worked hard
at achieving their goals. As it is my last time as
captain for the UK team, it is nice to go out on
a high as it has taken many years and a lot of
development to get ourselves to this stage. Well
done to all!
All fellow team captains congratulated Ladislav
on the success of the European Championship
and to be honest, we are planning the next one
already. A hard act to follow but, I for one just can’t
wait. See you next month and until then straight
shooting………………………..
Target Shooter 33
 ..... and finally the team that put the whole championship together,
well done guys

☆ 2007 Pan American Games

3x20 Gold Medalist
☆ 2007 WC Milan 3x20 Silver Medalist
☆ 2008 Olympian 3x20 Fifth Place
☆ 5-Time NRA Camp Perry
3x20 Junior National Champion
☆ Multiple Women’s NRA Camp Perry
National Champion
If you want to shoot like
a champion, choose Lilja!
www.riflebarrels.com
Lilja Precision Rifle Barrels, Inc
PO Box 372 • Plains, MT 59859
Tel: 406-826-3084 • Fax: 406-826-3083

34 Jamie Beyerle
Target Shooter
 Knowing your conditions
Helps to keep your aim true
Weather Meters

Easy to use

Accurate

Wind speeds

Cross Winds

Air Pressure

Humidity

Temperature

Dew Point

Wind Chill

Altitude

Time and Date

Graphical Display

Data Logging


ORDER ONLINE FROM

www.r-p-r.co.uk
Tel: 01590 679755
Target Shooter 35
 My 308 is dead, what next? –
Pt2

by Chris Parkin

The Rifle as it was used for the Egg shoot

Last month, we went through the basics of the picatinny rail, 30mm rings, an 8-32 Nightforce
build which included re-barrelling my Remmy NXS scope and Harris 6-9” bipod, all of which
action, inletting the stock and Devcon bedding had been used on the gun before its re-build.
the action. I always wanted the rifle to have a
detachable box magazine and went for the South The only real change was that I decided to go
Yorkshire Shooting Supply’s bottom-metal, against having the muzzle threaded. Why? I
which is made for the AI magazines. Fitting the don’t want to use a sound moderator anyway
bottom-metal into my stock proved to be a fairly as I dislike them and feel they can cause more
straightforward process and I had no trouble problems than they solve, certainly on a target
with the 260 Rem. cartridge feeding smoothly. gun. Secondly, I didn’t intend to fit a muzzle-
brake. I had a brake on the 308 to minimise shot
Other Components to shot disruption on shoots like the McQueen’s
The rest of the build was standard fayre, 20 MOA where rapid fire and rapid return to point of aim

36 Target Shooter
 The Bottom Metal inlet with 2mm Devcon surround.

is needed but I personally, like to feel the gun The Egg Shoot
kick a little and since this new build was looking I had just a couple of days left to sort out a load
like having less recoil than the old 308 and a lot for the Diggle Egg Shoot so worked up a couple
more weight, I didn’t see the need. of simple recipes, combining this with barrel

The .260 Rem cartridge, loaded 10 thou.

off the lands, is a perfect fit in the AI magazine
Target Shooter 37
 Some Components for initial load development
The 1” Ball Nose cutter with 30mm bushing

run-in and cleaning. Accuracy was better with satisfying debut for the 260.
the second load and although my chronograph
played games on the day, I at least had a load Although the rifle is workable and 100%
to take to the Egg Shoot, with a rough idea of its functional, my project was still not fully complete.
muzzle-velocity. The gun needed final aesthetic finishing and
the load needed a little more development to
I have shot the competition before and usually make sure I was feeding the barrel everything it
finished somewhere in the middle of the results deserved. Next month we’ll look in more detail at
list so I went with the intention of having a good load development and final finishing - including
day and enjoying it. I wasn’t too bothered about the Dura-Coating process which I decided to
an exact zero as I knew I would be within half a apply to all the metal parts.
MOA or so and, in a competition with no sighters,
things can vary so much on the day anyway -
especially with Diggle’s wind!
At the first 100 yard stage of the Egg Shoot I
shot a clean maximum score – three shots in a
three-quarter inch circle. At 300 yards I got 3 hits
with a 0.8 inch group and at 500yards put in a
0.9 inch group with one of the three shots just off
the body, so eight out of my nine shots scored. I
was a happy chappy.
Yes, I missed the egg and the £100 bounty but as
the results started to appear, I began to realise
that I had probably done pretty well. Although I
tied with my best mate Chris Vaux, who also had
a clean score at 100 yards, I hadn’t managed to
win any of the small-group awards but did have
enough points to tie for the overall win. A very

38 Target Shooter
 Target Shooter 39
40 Target Shooter
 New Design - alternative rimfire benchrest!!
by Martin Lee
I am retired and no longer play golf, so spend
some time, amongst other things, trying to
improve my benchrest skills with the aim of
qualifying to meet you guys again, this time in
Charleston .
I was reading with the usual keen interest the July,
I think, issue of Target Shooter in which Andy was
describing his benchrest rifle project. My thought
was that whilst it was different it was still a
modification of an essentially prone rifle. So I
thought of building my own prototype benchrest
rifle.
Richard Lightfoot and I are both members of
the same two smallbore clubs in Melbourne . To
this end I knew that through him I had access
to a very well qualified member of the former
Commonwealth Aircraft Factory prototype
division, who could do the necessary precision
machining.
I was able to acquire a metre length of 40mm square
aircraft quality drawn aluminium block-(for $100).
This was sufficient, with the 12mm perspex that I
already had, to build both prototypes.
Thus Andy was the catalyst for my project, for
which I am grateful, but my aim, was to design a
rifle for benchrest, specifically, that would not be
used for prone. Thus, as the photos show I have
dispensed with the some of the prone elements:
the hand-grip, the cheek piece, and the fore-end
which is much shorter, which enables the shooter
to reach the front stand to adjust, without leaning
forward, or at worst having to stand up.
I have read much about the position to be
adopted in our sport. These are individual
and variable, and in Milan in 2008 and here in
Australia I have seen a number of varieties.
Richard and I have jointly evolved a position that
favours sitting directly behind the rifle, which
is almost unique here. Hand contact is then
confined to the front rest adjustment, the handle
if coaxial, and the trigger-nothing else. This
enables a straight view down the riflescope
without severely angling the head, which can
over even short-time periods effect blood flow
to the brain and thus eyes, thus aiming. It also
enables the trigger to be pulled straight back,
rather than at a slight angle.
The rear end is able to be adjusted vertically,
with ease. This enables the multiple targets to be
engaged at higher scope magnification. I usually
Target Shooter 41
shoot the top two rows and then move down. This
can be done quickly and with accuracy.
As a general observation I have tried to keep the
height of the scope above the bore, as low as
possible to reduce error, and to move the scope
42 Target Shooter
as far back as possible to give head up and
appropriate eye-relief. To this end the rear scope
mount is not vertical, and when mounted on the
Centra rail enables the scope to be moved further
to the rear.
Rifle Work Ammunition Development
 Re-barreling work Assistance in Ammunition Development up to and
 Fitting of Moderators and Muzzle brakes - Reproofing of including .50 BMG
Rifle required
 Trigger work – See Trigger work

Ballistics Testing
Offering Ballistics testing for research
and development purposes to Stanag,
NIJ and V50 testing of composite and
steel materials. Including High speed
photography and Certifiable Results of
tests.
Dolphin are now proud to announce
that we are ISO 9001:2008 BSI
certificate No FM32560 for our
Ballistic testing.

Dolphin Gun Company & Ballistic Services (a division of Hobson Industries )

2 Vine Street
STAMFORD
Lincs
PE9 1QE
Tel: 01780 481567 or 0774 7771962
Email: mik@mikdolphin.demon.co.uk

Website: www.dolphinguncompany.co.uk

Please feel free to contact us at any reasonable time to discuss any requirements that you may have.

Target Shooter 43
44 Target Shooter
 Target Shooter 45
HANDLOADING ‘OLD FAITHFUL’ THE .308 WINCHESTER
(Part 11 and Conclusion)

By Laurie Holland
Above - Every charge used was individually weighed. Harrell’s Precision benchrest measure,
RCBS 10-10 scales and Redding T7 press with Redding Competition die visible
Last month, I covered early
attempts at creating long-
range .308W loads for F-TR
competition, but struggled with
an FN SPR’s 24-inch barrel and
standard 0.300/0.3080” internal
measurements that produced
pretty anaemic MVs. Looking
back, I’m struck by how little
I knew then, but shooting the
.308W at 1,000yd is a hard
taskmaster – you either learn
or resign yourself to being at
the tail end of the results lists.
Look around the Web though,
and you’ll still see this and
similar rifles described as being
‘F-Class ready’, and the load
that I started out with on my first
year of GB-FCA competition
was ballistically identical to
that used by Brad Sauve
when he won the US F-TR
Championship only a year or
Sierra bullets loaded for
the FN Special Police Rifle.
Left to right: 155gn Palma
MK; 175gn MK; 190gn MK

46 Target Shooter
 transonic speeds; some examples were just
The Whidden Gunworks dropping into subsonic speeds and behaving
bullet pointing die. A erratically, or at any rate differently from their
separate supporting supersonic fellows. 2008 was BL – Before Litz
sleeve (alongside on the – and much was explained once we had access
left) is required for each to Bryan’s experimentally derived G7 BCs and
calibre suitable programs to run them through. Table
1 compares Sierra Infinity V.6’s (G1 drag curve
based) predictions against that of G7 based
data for the 175gn MatchKing to 1,000yd.
Note how the significant differences only really
appear at long ranges and we see that this
bullet-MV combination is subsonic at 1,000 with
only 92 fps in hand at 900yd. (I regard 100 fps
over the speed of sound as a minimum cushion
at the maximum distance any bullet is to be
fired over, better still 200 fps to avoid transonic
turbulence events, although it should be
noted that some bullets cope better than others,
the 190, 200, and 220gn Sierra MKs being
outstanding in this respect.)

Putting Brad Sauve’s superior shooting skills to

one side, how come he managed to win things
with this combination? I can only surmise that
US F-Class matches are shot in much higher
temperatures than ours, hence in thinner air,
giving extra velocity at 1,000yd.Always remember
that the cartridge is marginal for this distance in
all but specialised loadings, and relatively small
changes in any part of the external ballistics
mix can have a disproportionate effect on its
performance. Another thing to factor in is target
size, and while a load that suffers 1.5-MOA of
vertical dispersion say caused by transonic
ballistic factors can still win a 1,000yd TR match
two earlier – the 175gn Sierra MK at a little above
with its 2¼-MOA (24-inch or so) diameter ‘Bull’, it’ll
2,600 fps. Ballistics tables and programs said that
struggle with the 1-MOA (10½”) F-Class equivalent
this bullet would be OK all the way to 1,000 yards
even if the shooter reads the wind perfectly. By
retaining around 1,200 fps at 1,000yd, 80 fps above
2008, national level F-TR shooters had realised they
the speed of sound, and in ‘standard ballistic’
needed to raise their game well above TR standards
environmental conditions at that – even the British
even if nine out of ten stayed with 155gn bullets,
summer usually sees us shoot in higher
most adopting the higher BC 155gn Lapua Scenar
temperatures than 59°. Also, the 175gn SMK at
and pushing MVs up by another 100 fps with a half-
2,620 fps closely duplicates the 1,000yd ballistic
MOA grouping capability regarded as a minimum
performance of a longstanding Target Rifle (TR)
requirement, and things have steadily moved on
and Palma load, the original 155gn SMK at 2,950
since then.
fps, which was successfully used by many British
.308W F-Class competitors in the early days of the
FN Round 2
discipline. Nevertheless, in Diggle’s and Blair Atholl’s
With the barrel for a custom F-TR rifle taking
strong winds and chilly temperatures, it didn’t work!
forever, it was a case of make-do with the tools at
Rather, it did at 800 yards, usually did at 900, but
hand, meaning I either squeezed another 100-150
walk back that extra hundred yards and bullets were
fps MV out of the 175gn SMK or found a load that
all over the target in anything except a flat calm,
gave the same 2,620-50 fps MVs with a significantly
and ‘all over’ included elevation consistency, or lack
higher BC bullet. Getting more velocity out of the FN
of it. There were several possible reaons for this:
wasn’t impossible, but doing it without taking group
ballistics tables speak with forked tongue; these
size to the MOA mark and increasing MV extreme
bullets are very susceptible to wind disturbance at
spreads was another matter. A second round of bench

Target Shooter 47
testing was embarked upon, also looking at other Above - 190gn Sierra MK meplats – out of the
bullets on the market for a more general report as box on the right, ‘pointed’ on the left
to what people can expect from a good 24” barrel
factory rifle. For example, I knew in advance that providing I could get 2,625 - 2,650 fps. Moreover,
I wouldn’t get the 155gn Berger VLD out at high I’d previously obtained reasonable accuracy
enough velocities for F-TR, but wanted to see how with this bullet and getting on for 2,600 fps using
the three VLD models would perform in this sort of Vihtavuori N550 ‘high-energy’ powder. I now know
rifle, and added it to the 168 and 175gn examples. from Bryan Litz’s long-range tests that this bullet is
Incidentally, the two Berger 168gn models (BT a short-range proposition with an average 0.483 BC
and VLD) with their less than 9° boat-tail angles over 1,000yd, while the 190gn SMK at 0.527 does
remain stable at long ranges and shouldn’t be exactly what it says on the tin. So it was fortunate
classed with same weight ‘short-range only’ that I got better results at the 100yd bench from the
bullets from Sierra, Speer, Nosler and Hornady. Sierra and used that for my remaining matches with
However, this VLD is nothing to write home about the FN! 46.5gn of N550 produced a half-inch group
in terms of BC, being only marginally better than the at 2,638 fps and follow-up tests varying charges by
best 155s, but not going to achieve their MVs. Its 0.2gn steps repeated these results. With 46.7gn
G7 BC of 0.242 is nearly the same as that of the adopted just in time for the last national league
175gn SMK (0.243), so would also need to achieve match of the year, I moved up from my customary
2,750 fps MV to be usable at long range. While position in the last three in class to half way up the
it produced reasonable groups in the FN but at field, at the cost of heavy muzzle blast. It should be
deficient velocities, its 175gn sibling wouldn’t group noted that although a venerable design, the 190gn
and the 2,650 fps I got with Re15 was still too low. SMK is still a favourite amongst some 1,200yd
Match Rifle competitors and has a reputation for
That left 185s and 190s and the first question was not being fazed by transonic / subsonic veloci-
would the 190gn Sierra MatchKing stabilise in the ties at extreme ranges. I regularly tell F-TR shoot-
FN’s 1-12” twist barrel, this seeming a long, heavy ers to try it, but they ask instead about the 185gn
and exotic bullet a mere couple of years ago. No Scenar which is an inferior bullet for long ranges.
problem here and I even had some Norma factory Important! Remember, the FN’s SAAMI barrel
190gn ‘Diamond Match’ cartridges that produced specifications – this 190gn/N550 combination may
a healthy 2,628 fps – shame that they struggled to produce excessive pressures in a ‘tight’ barrel,
produce 100yd groups under the inch! The main especially older model UK and Commonwealth
alternatives came from Lapua, its traditional and 7.62mm calibre, TR rifles. Do NOT use it in Enfield
efficient D46 FMJBT and newer Scenar HPBTM No.4 7.62mm rifles.
both in 185gn. I’d tried the D46 and the FN didn’t
like it, but the Scenar with its claimed G1 BC of Table 2 lists the results of this second round of load
0.521 (compared to 0.505 and 0.533 for the 175gn tests in the FN. With no sign of the barrel ordered
and 190gn Sierra MKs respectively) looked good for the new rifle, desperate measures were also

48 Target Shooter
The Barnard-Eliseo tubegun in its original slow-twist barrel form in BR mode during 100yd
load tests
adopted to squeeze every last bit of BC out of the
190 SMKs and improve their long-range grouping
capability – measuring their bearing surface lengths
using callipers and two bullet comparator bodies and
.30” inserts and batching them accordingly; buying a
Whidden Gunworks bullet pointing die and .30 calibre
insert to reduce their meplat diameters. ‘Pointing’ is
worth somewhere between a 3 and 8% BC increase
depending on bullet calibre (smaller the calibre, the
greater the benefit), and the original meplat size.
Tubegun
February 2009 saw Vince Bottomley complete
my Eliseo stocked tubegun replacement for the
FN with its superb Barnard Model P action and
Bartlein barrel, the last named in a 30” ‘tight-bore’
1-13.5” twist configuration very much in line
with mid 2008 thinking when it had been
ordered. The chamber was ‘minimum-SAAMI’
specification and throated for the 155gn Lapua
Scenar seated relatively shallowly in the
case for a c. 2.85” COAL to increase powder
capacity and MVs. Gary Eliseo also provided
one of the first examples of his benchrest
bag-riding forend plate and buttstock
bag-rider rail kits, so bench testing loads was
carried out from a pedestal front-rest with
great precision.
With the first GB-FCA national league round
imminent, getting suitably accurate and high
velocity loads with the Scenar was a priority,
Viht N540 tried in Lapua brass, N550 in the old
‘roomy’ 1980s vintage 160gn Norma cases.
A secondary objective was to try the newly
introduced Sierra 155gn MK (#2156) and
Berger 155.5gn FULLBORE models at full
Left - Left to right: 155.5gn Berger,
155gn Lapua Scenar, new Sierra
Palma MK (#2156). All performed well
although the barrel had been
chambered specifically for the Scenar.
Target Shooter 49
 (3,000 fps or more) velocities, also other
suitable designs that would stabilise in the
‘slow’ rifling twist. Loads that provided good
precision (grouping ability) rather than
flat-out velocity for short-range club match
loads were also sought. The new-model
SMK was unobtainable here at that time,
and I must thank Norman Clark in Rugby,
one of our main Sierra importers and
distributors, for most generously donating
the sole ‘sample’ box of these bullets that
the factory had sent to him for my tests.

Viht N550 in the old Norma cases gave

small groups with MVs in the 2,900-
3,000 fps region with near case-full
powder charges, but N540 in the Lapua
brass also grouped very well and gave
additional velocity. I adopted a long-range

Above - Lapua .308W cases given a light ‘clean-up’ neck turn after initial batching by neck
thickness
Below - Forster and Redding neck-size bushings for minimum working of case necks and
close control of neck tension on the bullet

50 Target Shooter
 Set up ready to go at 350 yards

Above -The tubegun shot a storm at shorter ranges in its slow twist form as seen here in
the 2009 Yorkshire R.A. Spring Open meeting with 28 of 35 shots going into a 0.66-MOA
V-Bull at 400, 500, and 600 yards. However, elevation consistency was not good enough at
900 and 1,000yd
load comprising Lapua brass, Federal 210M Gold Later in warmer conditions and with a few hundred
Match primer, 155gn Scenar 0.015” off the rifling rounds through the barrel, that rose to 3,087 fps.
and a stiff (46.8gn) charge of N540 which grouped Note that Vihtavuori lists 45.1gn as their maximum
consistently at 0.35-0.5” at 100yd and gave 3,016 charge for this combination, although my chamber
fps MV in the tight barrel with under 20 fps spreads. and the longer COAL it permits will drop pressures

Table 1: 175gn SMK External Ballistics 

  Sierra Infinity v6 (G1)  Berger Bullets Program (G7) 
 
Range  Velocity  Drift  Velocity  Drift 
 
Muzzle  2,620  0.00”  2,620  0.00” 
100  2,443  0.72”  2,436  0.75” 
200  2,273  2.98”  2,260  3.10” 
300  2,109  6.94”  2,091  7.25” 
400  1,953  12.81”  1,929  13.38” 
500  1,803  20.80”  1,774  21.78” 
600  1,660  31.17”  1,625  32.73” 
700  1,526  44.22”  1,481  46.62” 
800  1,403  60.18”  1,344  63.90” 
900  1,293  79.27”  1,214  85.10” 
1,000  1,199  101.57”  1,099  110.77” 
 
Notes 
 
Drift is in a 10 mph 90‐degrees crosswind. 
Standard ballistic conditions (59°F, 29.92” Hg atmospheric pressure). 
The speed of sound is 1,122 fps under standard atmospheric conditions. 
Target Shooter 51
 Table 2: FN SPR Load Development – Second Round 

All combinations used Lapua cases and PMC primers unless noted otherwise. VLDs were 
seated 10 thou’ into the rifling, other bullets kept 10 thou’ out. 
 
Charges/Powder    Groups / MV      Comments 

155gn Berger VLD 
42‐45gn H. VarGet    0.5‐1.0”    2,752 (ES: 30)   43gn / 2,618 fps smallest group 
43‐45.5gn N540     0.5‐1.0”    2,767 (ES: 24)   43gn / 2,533 fps smallest group 
 
168gn Berger VLD 
43‐46gn N150      0.3‐0.9”    2,688 (ES: 12)   All groups <0.6” bar 45.5gn at 0.9” 
42‐44gn Allt. Re15    0.6‐1.1”    2,652 (ES: 16) 
 
175gn Berger VLD 
41‐44gn Allt. Re15    0.6‐1.8”    2,661 (ES: 19)   All groups <1” bar 44gn 
42‐44gn N150      0.8‐1.0”    2,571 (ES: 13)    
42‐45.5gn N550     0.4‐0.8”    n/r       
 
175gn Sierra Match King 
41‐44gn N540      0.3‐1.5”    2,580 (ES: 21)   42gn small group at 2,406 fps 
42.5‐45.5gn N150    0.5‐1.3     n/r      All groups <0.8” except 45.5gn 
44‐47.5gn N550     0.5‐1.0”    2,695 (ES: 20)    
43.2‐45gn IMR‐4064    0.8‐1.4”    2,750     0.2gn load steps 
42‐45gn IMR‐4320    0.5‐1.1”    2,706 (ES: 25)   Top load largest group 
41‐44gn H. VarGet    0.5‐1.5”    2,648 (ES: 18)   All groups <1” except 44gn 
40.5‐42.5gn H4895    0.5‐1.3”    2,538 (ES: 19)   Norma cases. Groups <1” bar 42.5gn 
 
185gn Lapua Scenar 
40‐42.5gn Allt. Re15    0.5‐1.2”    2,507 (ES: 19) 
40‐42.5gn IMR‐4064    0.9‐1.3”    2,605 
43‐46gn N550      0.5‐0.9”    2,579 (ES: 39) 
 
190gn Sierra Match King 
40‐42.5gn H. VarGet    0.6‐2.0”    2,599 (ES: 22)   Everything >1” except 41.5gn 
40‐42gn IMR‐4064    0.6‐1.2”    2,573 (ES: 15)   Top load smallest group. 
41‐44gn N150      0.5‐0.7”    2,524 (ES: 13)   Good shorter range load. 
44‐46.5gn N550     0.35‐1.2”   2,638 (ES: 32) 
46.5‐47.1gn N550    0.5‐1.2”    n/r 
somewhat. Let’s say something about component was followed by a Forster Bushing-Bump set,
preparation and selection and loading practices. also a bushing type but one that neck-sizes while
They had been steadily upgraded since I started setting the case-shoulder back without reducing the
long-range F-TR peaking in the winter of 2008/9 case-body diameter. Lapua brass was bought new,
with many a happy (?) hour spent neck-turning batched according to weight and neck thickness,
cases. First to be upgraded back in FN days were dies and given a ‘clean-up’ neck-turn based on that,
with the purchase of a Redding Type ‘S’ full-length some batches to 0.014”, others half a thou’ thinner.
bushing sizer and a matching micrometer-top Primer pockets and flash-holes were uniformed and
Competition seater – a superb combination. This cases batched by weight with any that fell outside
52 Target Shooter
Table 3: Barnard Tubegun (Early Loads – 155gn) 
 
Case / Primer  Powder        Groups  / MV    Comments 

155gn Lapua Scenar 
 
Nor/F210M  48.2‐49.0gn Viht N550    0.3‐0.9”   2,982    All ≤0.6” except 49gn 
 
Lap/PMC  45.5‐47.2gn Viht N540    0.4‐1.0”   3,016    10 x 5‐round batches, small steps. 
 
Nor/F210M  44.0‐46.0gn Viht N150    0.2‐0.9”   2,859    Good load. 4 ex 5 ≤0.4”. 
 
Nor/NSF   43.5‐45.5gn Viht N140    0.25‐0.65”   2,908  Good – 4 ex 5 ≤0.4”. 
 
Nor/NSF   45.0‐48.0gn H. VarGet    0.3‐1.6”   3,088    10 x 5‐round batches, small steps. 
 
Lap/F210M  42.0‐44.0gn IMR‐3031    0.3‐0.7”   3,055    Very small MV ES values. 
 
Lap/F210M  42.0‐44.0gn H. Benchmark  0.4‐0.8”   2,989    Poor. 4 ex 5 ≥0.6”. 
 
Lap/F210M  42.5‐44.5gn IMR‐4064    0.5‐0.8”  2,982 
 
Lap/F210M  44.0‐46.0gn Alliant Re15    0.4‐0.6”   3,006 
 
 
 
155gn Berger VLD 
 
Nor/F210M  49.2‐50.0gn Viht N550    0.4‐0.75”   3,022    0.2gn steps   
 
 
 
155.5gn Berger BT FULLBORE 
 
Lap/PMC  47.4‐48.5gn Viht N550    0.3‐1.1”   2,946    4 ex 5 loads ≤0.6”.   
 
Lap/F210M  46.0‐47.6gn Viht N540    0.5‐0.75”  2,937 
 
Nor/F210M  45.0‐47.6gn H. VarGet    0.25‐0.9”   2,981    10 x 5‐round batches, small steps. 
 
 
 
155gn Sierra MK (old model #2155) 
 
Nor/NSF   44.0‐46.0gn Viht N150    0.3‐0.8”   2,897 
 
 
 
155gn Sierra MK (new model #2156) 
 
Lap/PMC  47.4‐48.5gn Viht N550    0.2‐1.0”   2,949    3 ex 5 loads ≤0.5”.   
 
Lap/F210M  46.0‐47.6gn Viht N540    0.3‐1.0”   2,908    Poor: only 1 load under 0.5” 
 
Nor/NSF   44.0‐46.0gn Viht N150    0.2‐0.9”   2,885    Very good: 4 ex 5 within 0.2‐0.4”. 

Target Shooter 53
 Table 4: 1‐13” and 1‐13.5” Twist Rate Stability Factor Values (Miller’s Twist rate Formula) 
 
Bullet        Length    MV (fps)  Sg1‐13”   Sg1‐13.5” 
 
155.5gn Berger FULLBORE  1.250”    3,000    1.29    1.20 
 
155gn SMK (old #2155)    1.131”    3,000    1.72    1.59 
 
155gn SMK (new #2156)  1.210”    3,000    1.42    1.31 
 
168gn Hornady HPBT Match  1.232”    2,880    1.44    1.33 
 
168gn Berger VLD    1.265”    2,880    1.33    1.23 
 
168gn Sierra MK    1.215”    2,880    1.50    1.39 
 
167gn Lapua Scenar    1.236”    2,880    1.42    1.32 
 
175gn Berger BT Long‐Range  1.279”    2,825    1.34    1.24 
 
175gn Sierra MK    1.240”    2,825    1.46    1.35 
 
180gn Sierra MK    1.277”    2,785    1.37    1.27 
 
185gn Berger BT Long‐Range  1.353    2,750    1.19    1.10 
 
185gn Lapua Scenar    1.308”    2,750    1.31    1.22 
 
190gn Sierra MK    1.353”    2,710    1.21    1.13 
 
 
Notes 
Calculated using the Miller’s Twist Rate formula (Excel program). 
 
Bullet lengths courtesy of Bryan Litz (from his book “Applied Ballistics for Long Range Shooting”). 
 
Sg (stability factor) values based on standard ballistics environment (59°F 29.92” Hg pressure). Cold 
dense air and high pressures reduce the Sg requiring a faster rifling twist rate; high temperatures, 
altitude and low atmospheric pressure increase it requiring less twist rate and a slower bullet spin 
rate. 
 
1.0 Sg value = theoretically stable. ≥1.4 is recommended, but ≥1.2 is usually ‘safe’ in UK conditions 
while 1.1 is ‘dicey’. However, note that value for the 185gn Berger BT L‐R in the 1‐13.5” twist drops 
to only 1.06 at 45°F (7°C) which applied in the PSSA match in late October. 

54 Target Shooter
Table 5: Barnard Tubegun (Early Loads – ‘heavy’ Bullets in 1‐13.5” Twist Barrel) 
 
Case / Primer  Powder        Groups  / MV    Comments 

 
168gn Sierra MK 
 
Nor/NSF   43.0‐45.0gn Viht N150    0.4‐1.2”   2,714 
 
 
 
168gn Hornady HPBT Match 
 
Lap/PMC  43.0‐46.0gn Viht N150    0.7‐1.2”   2,877    Very small ES values – single digit! 
 
Win/PMC  43.0‐46.0gn H. VarGet    0.4‐0.65”   2,887    Small ES values. 
 
 
 
168gn Berger VLD 
 
Win/PMC  43.0‐46.0gn Viht N150    0.5‐0.8”   2,837 
 
Lap/PMC  43.0‐46.0gn H. Varget    0.3‐0.7”  2,902    Very good: 4 ex 5 ≤0.5”. 
                  Small ES values. 
 
 
175gn Sierra MK 
 
Nor/F210M  43.0‐45.0gn Viht N150    0.3‐0.6”   2,780    Small ES values. 4 ex 5 ≤0.5”. 
 
Rem/F210M  41.0‐43.0gn Viht N140    0.4‐1.0”   2,667      Very good: 4 ex 5 ≤0.4”. 
 
Rem/F210M  42.5‐44.5gn Viht N540    0.5‐0.9”   2,842      Large ES values. 
 
Lap/F210M  42.0‐45.0gn H. VarGet    0.3‐0.8”   2,831      4 ex 5 ≤0.6”. 
 
Lap/F210M  41.0‐44.0gn Alliant Re15    0.5‐0.9”   2,802      4 ex 5 0.5‐0.6”. 
 
 
 
 
180gn Sierra MK 
 
Nor/F210M  42.5‐44.5gn Viht N150    0.5‐0.9”   2,742      Small ES values. 
                    4 ex 5 ≤0.5”. 
 
Lap/F210M  42.0‐45.0gn H. VarGet    0.3‐0.8”   2,831      Small ES values. 
 
Lap/F210M  41.0‐44.0gn Alliant Re15    0.5‐0.9”   2,802      3 ex 5 exactly 0.5” 
 
 
 
185gn Berger Target BT Long‐Range 
 
Nor/F210M  46.1‐46.3gn Viht N550    0.4‐0.6”   2,755 (46.2gn)    3 x 0.1gn steps. Bad  
                    weather.  

Target Shooter 55
of weight or neck thickness norms used for load
development. Most loads used the Federal 210M
Match primer. All bullets used in long-range
competition were ‘pointed’ in the Whidden die.
Charges were weighed on a set of RCBS 10-10
beam scales after being thrown from a Harrell’s
Precision powder measure. This tool is a joy in use, its
operation being so smooth, but doesn’t necessarily
throw more uniform charges than the Hornady
Competition measure I mentioned last month. What
it will do is allow a quick return to known settings and
consistent settings’ changes with its fully calibrated
large brass adjuster drum and individual click
settings, a single one of which changes the charge by
very close to 0.1gn with most stick powders. This is
a boon with the number of different cartridges I load
and regular load development sessions assembling
ammunition in batches of five rounds before changing
the charge weight by anything between 0.1 and a full
grain. Finally, the press was upgraded – I now have
a choice of the Forster Co-Ax or Redding T7 both
of which are powerful, smooth and produce very
concentric sized cases or finished rounds. I generally
use the Forster for .308W ammo, keeping the T7
semi-permanently set up for .223 Rem and .204
Ruger.
The results tables largely tell their own story. Some
points to note though: All combinations and their
resulting groups are for five-round batches, five
of each charge weight unless shown otherwise,
Charge weight steps can be guessed from the range
– 2gn overall normally in 0.5gn steps; 3gn in 0.1gn
steps then 0.5gn between the two highest charges.
Multiple batch combinations started at 0.5 or 0.4gn
steps reducing as likely maximum loads were
approached, first to 0.3gn then 0.2gn. Many
top loads exceed those in loading manuals and
readers use them at their own risk. All were run
through QuickLOAD before adoption to check on likely
pressures – none produces excessive pressure in
my rifle – but may in yours, so start 10% below my
maxima and work up in small steps. Also, reduce
maximum charge weights for the heavier loads
shown for the Norma cases by a grain if used in
Lapua brass.
Groups and Heavies
So far as performance is concerned, the Bartlein
barrel liked Hodgdon VarGet and it proved to be a
top performer with most bullets. Viht N540 was the
velocity king with 155s, why many European F-TR
shooters use it, and gave good groups with this
bullet weight. N550 proved superior for heavier
bullets, N150 was its usual superb self in lower
MV loads for shorter ranges giving some of my
best test groups. IMR-3031 proved to be a star
with the 155gn Scenar giving high MVs, small
56 Target Shooter
spreads and groups. It doesn’t meter well in
measures however. As a shorter range load, I had
the 155gn Scenar in the old thin Norma brass,
federal 210M primer and 48.0gn Viht N550 for 2,843 fps,
although the single-base N150 version would perform
equally well as can be seen from its results in Table
3.
My 2009 match positions improved dramatically
with the Barnard and these loads, but I wasn’t
satisfied – I reckoned I could do better. Much of
that is in improving the nut behind the butt’s wind-
reading skills, but reckoned I could improve the
external ballistics through bullet selection. Bryan Litz’s
book “Applied Ballistics for Long Range Shooting”
showed how – heavier higher-BC bullets, and the
then new Berger BT Long-Range models, especially
the 185gn looked promising. The problem was the
Bartlein’s slow (1-13.5”) rifling twist rate that gives
this bullet a marginal stability factor of 1.10 (table
4). This bullet is regularly used in the USA with
1-13” rate Palma Rifle barrels where competition
rules allow, although 1-12” is regarded as optimal.
Although looking for reduced wind drift, I gradually
became aware that my vertical spreads with the
155gn Scenar / N540 load were larger than they
should be, sometimes much larger. I don’t know why
as the combination grouped tightly and gave small
velocity extreme spreads, but it did. Maybe moving
to the Berger 155.5gn or new Sierra Palma MK
would have helped, but I began to feel you can push
these bullets too fast, so reducing MVs to around
3,000 fps was one possible solution. In any event
I’d decided heavier bullets were the way forward
and started testing some to see if they would ‘work’,
slow-twist or no – and they apparently did! (Table
5.) 47.0gn of N550 behind the 185 Berger gave
0.2” 100yd groups in late summer / early autumn
temperatures, later chronographing 2,810 fps with a
small spread. However, trying this load in a 900yd
PSSA match at Diggle on a cold late October day
gave very different results – Miss, 3, 3, 4, 2 the hits
spread high, low, right and left, so it was a case of a
rapid switch back to the 155gn ammunition I’d taken
along .... just in case. Why? Maybe they work at
100yd, but not 900 in any conditions; maybe it was
the considerable temperature drop between 100yd
testing and the match. In any event, I had a new
1-10” twist rate Broughton barrel blank lined up
and this was fitted early this year by Stuart Anselm
(Osprey Rifles) chambered with the same reamer as
the 1-13.5” Bartlein. The Berger 185s perform brilliantly
in this barrel at 2,750 fps and the elevation problem
has been cured. I have 200, 208 and 210gn bullets
plus some other heavies on hand for further tests this
autumn and winter – but fast-twist barrel, heavy bullet
.308W is a subject for a future look at the cartridge.
 Full page adverts, Half
page adverts,
Quarter page adverts
and more.

Contact us today to see

what we can do for you
and make your products
work to their full potential,
in a way that is the future
of magazines and
advertising. With over
readers 10,000 a month, in
the UK and around the

Target Shooter Magazine can offer your

company the kind of advertising that a hard
copy magazine cannot offer. Our readers can,
with a click of the mouse, connect straight to
your website.
An advert with a hard copy magazines can
only say so much about your product. With
cost and limited space, most have to keep it
direct. But with a online magazine the advert Target Shooter Magazine
takes on a whole new way of advertising, as email us at
it can be the front door to your website and
all those other products you have waiting for admin@targetshooter.co.uk
customers
Target Shooter 57
Target Shooter Magazine is a publication of Trinity Digital Publishing Ltd
 The 150th Imperial Meeting

by Chris White
Above - A very happy David Calvert is chaired off the range
The 2010 Queens Prize was taken to back to Northern ‘Touch-line experts’ may well believe that the second
Ireland - the first time since Martin Millar’s historic 1994 stage was a stroll in the park and the final a difficult but
win - by David Calvert of the RAF Target Rifle Club. Calvert manageable shoot. They would be wrong. Take it from
scored an outstanding 297 with 37 v’s out of a possible me - I was there!
300/60v over the five ranges, dropping only three shots
out of sixty. Before we get into just what David was faced with
on-route to his ride in the chair let’s look at the meeting
Queen’s finalists carry forward their second stage score - as a whole from my perspective and also ‘step outside
the second stage consisting of ten shots to count at 300, the box’ now and again and see if any of my experiences
500 and 600 yards. David carried forward 150 to the final, provide lessons which may prove useful.
which is fifteen shots on score at 900 yards
and 1000 yards and was still ‘clean’ when Here’s what the borescope revealed in the Barnard’s
he got down to shoot at 1000 yards. Only borehe Barnard’s bore
one other competitor was in the same
enviable position. Jonathon Underwood
who won the Queen’s in 2006.
Calvert was shooting in his 24th Queen’s
final and has previously come second on
three occasions. Incidentally, of current
active competitors, only Paul Kent and
Simon Belither have bettered this with
28 and 26 appearances respectively. Like
David, neither have actually won it. Under
less than easy conditions and, despite
his experience and unquestioned skill
and clearly under a lot of pressure, he
finished the afternoon with a 73 at 1000
yards to clinch the coveted prize at last.
Just one point adrift was Australian Jim
Corbett, who was there independently
and not a member of his country’s official
rifle team, on 296/45 with Paul Kent and
fellow Ulsterman Ross McQuillan both on
296/38.

58 Target Shooter
 Above - Cleaning the copper out caused havoc with the rifle’s grouping at the Scottish
Now, the first lesson was learned over most of the first
part of this year but I did not cotton-on to it until the
Scottish meeting in June. I had had one or two shoots
ruined by off-call high shots - a situation which repeated
itself at the Scottish but only at the first range. My
Barnard has now had close on 6,000 rounds through its
Krieger barrel and inspection with the bore-scope reveals
that it is picking up copper big-time in the throat area.
I had been making strenuous efforts to remove as much
of this as possible. After the first shoot in Scotland I
started to ponder.
This erratic shooting only occurred when the rifle was
clean. Subsequent ranges or occasions when I shot the
rifle dirty were OK. I reasoned that what was happening
was that the barrel needed to re-plate itself with copper
in the rough area before it settled down. Smallbore
shooters are well acquainted with a similar scenario after
cleaning their rifles. When I returned from Scotland I
gave the barrel a normal clean to get the powder fouling
out but did not attack the copper fouling.
I shot the British Commonwealth Rifle Association open
meeting at the beginning of July which seemed to confirm
my theory. Since The BCRC meeting was shot with issued
RWS ammunition - the same as the Imperial - I did not
clean my rifles. Therefore, counter to perceived wisdom,
I embarked on the Imperial with dirty rifles and left them
dirty. At this stage I must say (emphatically) that I would
not adopt such a strategy with a barrel in good order.
This master plan was almost kyboshed when I collected
my tickets only to discover that I had been randomly
selected to have my barrels checked (for the third time)
for compliance with rule 150. For those unacquainted
with this particular piece of NRA convolution there
follows a brief and simplified history.
When, in the late 90s, the NRA had Radway Green
produce a 155 grain bullet for use with ‘Target Grade’
ammunition, the resultant ammunition was neither
compliant with NATO nor SAAMI specifications. Most
NRA target rifles had chambers and throats cut on the
tight side of SAAMI specs to wrest the best out of the
hitherto issued RG Green Spot with its 144 to 147 grain
bullet. Measuring those early bathes of 155 grain RG with
a comparator revealed differences in seating depth of
around 60 thou, with some batches showing 100 thou.
variation between the shortest and longest round in a
box!
It needs no imagination to grasp that a combination of
the longest round coupled with the tightest possible
throat resulted in the ‘garden smelling of rotten
cabbages’ rather than roses! Cases of erratic shooting
and popped primers were widespread. One may think
that the obvious answer to the problem was to get RG
to make the ammunition compliant with SAAMI specs.
Not a bit of it. To comply with NRA rule 150 your rifle
has to have a non-compliant chamber. This is indicated by
the proof mark which says ‘308Win NRA’. It appears that
some bad lads (and possibly lasses) have been having
their chambers ‘meddled with’ so the NRA now requires
a periodic check.
Back to the chase. It is generally believed that the build
up of a carbon ring in a dirty barrel will result in a witness
Target Shooter 59
 Stiff angling wind and targets in the
shadows posed problems in the Century
mark, on the bullet, used in the compliance gauge and
thus result in a fail. This of course begs the question is
your rifle non-compliant as soon as it has been shot? I
was insistent that my rifles were not cleaned and it was a
bit of a struggle to find someone who I both trusted to do
a proper job and who would check them dirty. After a lot
‘to-ing and fro-ing’ Colin Shorthouse of Fultons came to
my aid and both rifles were certified compliant.
So what of the shooting?
The first very loud alarm-bell rang on ‘First Friday’
morning when I was coaching City of Newcastle Rifle Club
in the final of the Astor County Championship. Whilst we
will probably deal with team shooting at some point in
the future, for the uninitiated, a rifle team coach is not
like a football coach. It is the coach’s job to interpret the
wind conditions and tell the shooter when to shoot. That
is when there is the optimum chance of getting a V bull
and to encourage the shooter and make him feel calm
(that’s the theory anyway).
Usually the coach is assisted by a ‘plotter’ who may see
something the coach hasn’t but who’s primary function
is to plot the shots and keep a corrected elevation, thus
ensuring that the coach’s full attention is on the wind.
With me in the chair doing the windreading and seasoned
veteran Keith Pugh assisting as plotter, we ought not to
have missed any wind changes at 300 yards - certainly
not significant ones anyway.
Everything was going swimmingly when suddenly, a
downwind ‘magpie’ (dropping two points) appeared.
The shooter, Dr. Graham Nelson, an A1 team man, did
not declare a bad shot and he certainly would have know
about one as bad as that.
Even the most inexperienced shooter should see a two
minute change at 300 yards but we didn’t! Fortunately
60 Target Shooter
a look along the line revealed we were not the only
ones. This might have helped me to stop Graham beating
himself up but it did little to stop me beating myself up!
Finishing with a score of 102½ per man out of 105 was
not, I thought, good enough and that 103½ per man
would be needed. It was difficult not to dwell on that
magpie at 300 yards.
Experienced team shooters know that the end result
is a collective effort. Sometimes a shooter may let off
a bad shot - not always his fault if he has a coach that
dithers. When I have told my shooter to “Go on” it needs
something significant for me to stop him. It is, therefore,
difficult to avoid carrying the full weight of responsibility
for the end result. You always remember the ones that
slipped out and not the ones you have saved. It is, of
course, a truism that if experienced coaches have a hard
time then probably everyone else is too. The same goes
for individual shooting.
That’s lesson two - sometimes dropping points is not a
disaster as long as you drop less than the opposition!
As far as The Astor was concerned fortunately I was
wrong, we were just pipped into second place (for the
second year in row) by ‘Old Guildfordians’ with 617/77
to our 615/63. Turning that magpie into a V bull wouldn’t
have been enough!
This really set the scene for most of the next ten days. Stiff
winds with sudden gusts or quick flicks of angle caught
out team windcoaches when their total attention was on
the wind. It was so much worse for individual shooters
who were ‘caught in the aim’ - changes in wind strength
and direction occurring when their head was on the rifle
to deliver the shot. Frequently, there would appear to
be a change in wind conditions which appeared before
the final commitment and still appeared to be there after
shot delivery but turned out to be either not there at all
or a transitory change had occurred during shot delivery.
Unseen magpies, particularly at long range were all too
common.
For those involved in The Astor, Friday is an exhausting
day. Individual shoots comprise the ‘Admiral Hutton’ at
900 yards and ‘The Century’ at 600 and 500 yards, in all
cases ten-shot shoots.
Fortunately I had a reasonable gap and kicked off the
Century at 14.45 on Butt 12. With the wind coming from
the left, there wasn’t a great deal to look at on this part
of the range. Judging angle was difficult and both sighters
went well downwind. Tempering judgement with the
sighters, shot one was delivered with a fairly crude wind
setting of what I could actually see plus a minute. It was
not enough. The second to count found the V bull half
MOA upwind with two more minutes on the gun than I
could see on the flags. Tickling about with the windarm
kept them there for a 49 and the fact that there were
precious few triggers being weighed indicated that maybe
the 49 wasn’t too shabby. Corrected wind ran from 4¼ to
5¾ with the biggest shot-to-shot change being a minute.
Over the hill at 16.00 for the Hutton seemed a little easier
- at first. Although to the left of the range again I found
the flags a bit more readable - or so I thought and my best
guess of 12 for the first sighter found the V half a minute
upwind. With nothing apparently changing the second
sighter went with 11½ to waste the V for a corrected 13.
On the assumption that these had caught the bracket and
in the absence of anything obvious to the contrary shot
1 went with something close to the mean on 12. Shot
3 was caught in the aim to a drop-off and was a fair bit
Four off at the start of the Grand may not seem impressive – but I did work hard at it!
Parallax
adjustable helps
into the inner at 9 o’clock. However the wind appeared
readable between 10 and 12 until shot 9 - which was lost
with too much wind on and ten which was lost with not
enough.
Of course the resultant 47 was not good enough for a
medal. Back on Century at 19.00, things were
exacerbated by light behind the target opening the group
up. With the wind varying by up to two minutes early
in the shoot, taking time to acquire a sight-picture was
not good news and the first three to count were lost
to a combination of bad wind-calls and loose shooting.
After which I got in the groove and put the rest in the V.
Again 96 was no where near the prize list but the first big
surprise of the meeting (there were to be others) came
when I discovered that what I thought was a shabby 143
on the daily aggregate did get in the list. Normally ‘A’
class would want at least 147. Confirmation of lesson 2!
Saturday sees the start of the Grand Aggregate but there
is another ‘warm-up match in the morning, the ‘Donegal’
at 300 yards and normally the chance for an HPS Cross.
Just before the first detail, the heavens opened. By the
time I got to shoot at 11.45 it was warm but the ground
was saturated and it was blowing a hooley. The windflags
were whipping well above vertical and on occasions the
poles were bending. To make matters worse, the flags
would suddenly drop or the angle would change so in
an instant a wind blowing to three o’clock would blow to
1 o’clock. Again on range 12 there wasn’t much upwind
to look at. The ground was too wet to produce a mirage
which at least would have told, by its presence, if the
wind was less than 1, or by its absence more than 2.
Particularly at 300 yards the flags are too high to reflect
Target Shooter 61
A day later and wind conditions were even worse

what is happening at ground level. Suffice it to say that Century but turned out to be much more dire, running
the true wind varied from almost three to zero with from ¾ left to 4½ left. I thought the resultant 71 not too
one minute variations between shots being common sniffy, again with the four lost shots being heartbreakingly
and instances of two minutes occurring. These are not close. There were many round about who know what
conditions on which I thrive. A 46 with four ‘warts’ might they are doing and faired worse!
just as easily have been a 50 but it wasn’t.
Just as an aside before the afternoon’s shoots started, Next time we’ll see how the week progressed, learn
I made my habitual, annual visit to the RAF Rifle Club’s another couple of lessons, see that the ammunition was
bric a brac sale. Sadly one can no longer buy P14 up to the job and just what hoops David jumped through
target-sights for a tenner. The time was not wasted to win the Queen’s and finish with a bit of light relief.
however as I bumped into Colin Goad who dragged me
by the nose to see Robert Chombart and his new ‘Inch’
action. My initial reaction was that the last thing I need is
to be spending money on was yet another Target Rifle. I
soon changed my mind. This is an outstanding piece of kit
and ought to take the TR and F class worlds by storm. This
action is to be marketed in the UK by Fox Firearms and
I suggest anyone interested contact Brian Fox. I already 122 Bohemia Road, St Leonards-on-Sea,
have done! East Sussex,
As I contemplated the start of the ‘Grand’ what were my TN37 6RP, England
thoughts? My old Steyr had shot a solid elevation in the
25 years in business and 30,000 items of outdoor kit available, all for you!
Hutton and there was no doubt that the limiting factor
in the rifle/ammunition/shooter combination was the
We sell everything from socks, trousers, jackets, air rifles, rifles, shotguns,
shooter and there were no qualms there. Up to press I’d ammunition, telescopic sights, night vision optics, torches, rucksacks, tents,
shot around a minute of elevation or worse at short range sleeping bags, military equipment, body armour,camouflage, knives, pyrotechnics,
survival aids, bivvi bags and catapults, through to soft air equipment,
with the Barnard and was beginning to regret trying to paintball equipment, replicas,blank firers, archery, crossbows and gps systems.
squeeze another season out the barrel. Maybe the The range of products covers hunting, camping, trekking, survival, security,
military, police, nature watching and various other activities.
ammunition wasn’t as good as I’d hoped it would be but
I would have been reluctant to blame the ammunition. Check out our website about the new
NEW SPOT-ON SHOTGUN LASER BORESIGHTER!
Hopefully, the days of travelling to the Imperial full of
trepidation over what RG may have on offer are gone
forever. In fairness to Radway Green they were and are,
in the business of making military ammunition. NRA
ammunition must have been a side-show, however
probably the best shoot I have ever had was with RG!
Biggish groups and almost unreadable wind conditions
did not put me quite into the comfort zone. Tel: 44 (0) 1424 429343 Fax: 44 (0) 1424 435308
www.outdoorsman.co.uk
The ‘Daily Telegraph’ (15 shots at 500 yards) saw me start
the Grand Aggregate with a core elevation of around ¾ of
a minute. Wind conditions appeared to be similar to the

62 Target Shooter
 Don’t settle
for less
Competitively
priced with
Over 30 different
Gunsafes in our unrivalled quality
standard range
- we have 3 year on-site
models to suit
all requirements
warranty*
Free Napier VP90
corrosion inhibitor

British made
since 1982

Call 020 8254 6812

for brochures and
your local stockist
Email info@brattonsound.co.uk
www.brattonsound.co.uk
*Terms and conditions apply - see Target Shooter 63
website for details. AVAILABLE FROM GUNSHOPS
 World Cup Success 2010
- 12/12 Gold medals in 50m events
- Warren Potent equals world record in Prone
with ELEY Tenex
- Total of 37 medals won using ELEY
in World Cups 1, 2 and 3

Champions shoot Tenex

64 www.eleyammunition.com
Target Shooter ELEY - the home of Tenex
 This Smallbore Business

By Don Brook
The Psychological Preparation of a Champion. few weeks later, in which a pretty hot squad from the
I am not sure of this, but hopefully, serious shooters USA were present. It was during the kneeling section
may be interested in what I have to say. The of a three position match, that I became aware of a
psychology of small bore shooting is quite a subject stranger watching me and went on with a pretty good
and my exposure to it came from my own shoot to win the match.
association with one of the leading sports
psychologists in Australia. Graham Winter approached me with outstretched
hand and had me roped with the first words he said
Sports psychology has been around for decades to me…. Words forever etched in my mind, even to
now and the study is fascinating. The link from this day.
mind-control to results is something that I did
not consider in my early years of international “I cannot teach you a thing about small bore Don, but
competition, and it was brought to my attention by I can help you to think!”
a past Team Leader in David Macfarlane (sadly he
has passed on) during one of my sojourns on the So began a very deep friendship, and we chatted
European target rifle circuit. about mental performance for what seemed like
hours in the club house in the Virginia range
A short history in my case will set the scene for you complex after the medal ceremony.
all so bear with me while I bore you with details…. I worked hard with a course he laid out for me over
In Australia, I dominated small bore for quite a while, the next few months, during which I once more
often training at above world record levels prone trialled out and won the right to shoot again for
and competing at the very same level I trained at. Australia.
I would win trials for international competition by a
wet week, gain selection and set off to where ever I landed in my favourite part of the world, the
the competitions were, only to shoot anything up to European circuit beginning with a World Cup in
10 points under what I was capable of. This gave me Munich, Germany and promptly won the match with
the poos, BIG time! a 598 and 104.3 in the final. Good results continued
in Strasbourg, France, Suhl (DDR) and Zurich then
David Mac came to me after yet another poor onto Linz in Austria.
performance, and asked me to work with a friend Graham Winter had opened the door for me and all I
of his from Adelaide in South Australia. He was a had to do was walk through it..
specialist sport psychologist and even though I was I will conclude this introduction with a question for
still reticent about dealing with a guru (my thoughts) you all:
I also thought “What the heck!” so agreed to talk
with Graham Winter, who was then with the South Have you ever wondered why 10% of the shooters
Australian Sports Institute. win 90% of the matches?
I was due to shoot in an invitation match in Adelaide a

Target Shooter 65
Now that is a good question is it not? Do you think
they have any more than you do? Are you sure they
are not supernatural? Freaks in a tough sport? How
about just lucky?
None of any of that actually because of all the elite
shooters I have known, shot with and competed
against (successfully I may add) there was always
one common denominator. A champion has the
utmost belief in themselves.
Do you think that is just a matter of getting out there
and going for it?
That MAY be the case in very rare instances but
generally a champion has not only done a lot of
physical training, they have also sought information
diligently, on any subject connected with the sport
but, above all, they have found that training the mind
is supremely important - just as I did……
Let it be known though, that I was always a
determined cuss and I remember when I was a
junior, I failed in a shoot off for a match and my good
friend, who acted as an early coach, said to me…
You cannot win them all Don,” My quick retort was…
“Why Not?”
There was no answer from him, he just looked
stunned, as this was coming from a 15 year old
shooter who already had an installed belief!
I will skip a few years now, and deliver the method to
you all that I was taught by a world leader in mental
training and sports psychology.
After the conversation with Graham Winter that I
detailed above (paragraph 7) he gave me a
sectionalised, detailed submission every month,
based on notes and audio tapes. I trained with these
every night, together with my dry-fire routine.
The subjects were set down in a progressive
order for me, under the instructions to phone him if I
wasn’t clear on anything. (Adelaide, where Graham
lived and worked was 1700 kms from where I was.
Australia is a big place!)
The first set of tapes came through and the items
were all about relaxation, so we will begin with the
methods of relaxed instruction, as it soon became
apparent to me that the process was based on the
early mental process concerned with learning to use
your mind.
It should be noted here that, after I had learned all
this, I went further as a study of my own and came
66 Target Shooter
up with some interesting stuff, particularly relative
to the ability to recognise and cross over into sub
conscious performance. I had (and still have) a
thirst for competition knowledge and I had absolutely
no reservation about questioning the best there
was available. I spoke with a great deal of the best
shooters in the world and blokes like Mal Cooper,
Harald Stenvaag, David Kimes and a host of the
best USA shooters such as Lones Wigger Jnr, Bill
Krilling, Lanny Bassham and Jack Writer. Two of
the best coaches from Canada and the very strong
German teams were often my visitors for lunch! I
even learned a modicum of French, in conversation
with J P Amat.. I am forever indebted to my friends,
believe me.
The process stared with my ability to relax, learning
to open my mind, and specifically the headings of
the tapes went in this order.
1. Progressive muscle relaxation.
2. The ability to utilise a mental training exercise
designed to promote relaxation connected with
breathing control. The example of this was ‘Down
the 20 steps’.
3. Finally, for the third month or so, there was a
segment on relaxation by imagery.
PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION.
This aspect is totally physical and you need to
understand that it is the initial part pertaining to mind
control.
I was instructed to conduct the training as a strength
measurement but, coupled with a relaxation feeling
after the ease of the muscles into a relaxed state.
On the floor, or even in bed, the recipient lies flat
on the back, with arms by your sides and the head
straight.
The eyes are closed and once in this position, the
pupil stretches the left foot as far as it will move,
holding the position purely by muscle tension. Hold it
until it almost vibrates, then just release it suddenly
allowing the foot to totally relax.
Your mind will note how good this feels, as the foot
is settled.
Then you move the muscles so that the calf muscle
and foot of the left leg is strained to hold the foot
extended under intense strength.
Each time a segment of strength is conducted, the
mind focuses on the strength needed and then
the relaxed feeling in the parts as the muscles are
relaxed. Always this is a sudden movement. You
will feel the calf muscle and foot go limp, as the
release point of the strength factor is attained.
It is crucial that the mind recognises just how good it
feels to have the muscles relaxed.
Then the progression is into the thigh muscles of
the left leg, using the leg muscles to hold the leg
off the floor for a few seconds. Then allow the leg
to fall back, as you concentrate on the feelings of
relaxation when the leg is eased back.
The whole procedure is followed identically for the
right leg, section by section, beginning at the foot
and moving up the leg until you reach the abdomen.
Once the legs are dealt with, the shooter can
then move into the abdominal area, allowing the
abdominal muscles to accumulate the strength
needed to lift the torso, and hold this posture for
10 seconds. In this case, you will need to hold the
breath in, allowing that breath to escape easily, once
more concentrating on how good it feels to be totally
relaxed. As I stated above it is crucial to coincide the
breathing control, as this control is the forerunner to
many other facets you will learn as you attempt to
link your mind to what you are trying to do.
Then the pupil moves up the body to the chest
muscles and there are two areas to work on here.
With the arms still by your sides, you need to force
the shoulder muscles (deltoids) off the rest position
upwards until they cannot move any further. Then
just let them fall back to rest. Repeat this at least
three times, once more as you focus your mind on
the feelings of relaxation of the muscles in the chest,
shoulders, and upper arms. The feelings we are
trying to generate is for the pupil to be able to iso-
late a specific area of the body for control of stress
and anxiety later on in the mental training program.
This is highly desirable for the management of your
competition skills, and is easily one of the most
important factors in learning ‘Mind Stuff’
Once the shoulders are lifted and relaxed, the same
set of muscles are used to force the shoulders
backwards into the bed, so that the muscles across
the chest are extended fully. Here it is easier if you
suspend the breath inwards, and hold it until the
shoulders are relaxed again. The chest will feel
pretty relaxed after this exercise.
The shooter then works on both right and left arms,
forcing them downwards into the bed or floor, with
the finger extended as far as they will go. Releasing
them suddenly from the extension of the muscles,
just recognising how good it feels to have relaxed
muscles in both arms.
Finally, once more breathing easily and with rhythm,
as you regulate the breathing depth in the lungs,
using the neck muscles, lift your head up off the rest
position as high as it will go, and jut the chin forward
enough to work the muscles of the face.
Hold this for 10 seconds again, then just allow the
head to fall back to rest position.
All of the above can be used for trouble getting to
sleep, either under anxiety, apprehension about your
coming performance, jet lag problems after travel, or
just general tiredness. Once the progressive muscle
relaxation is conducted you will find it a lot easier to
sleep.
Progressive muscle relaxation should allow the
shooter in training to be able to register any set of
muscles that are problematical and this is actually
the basic training to allow the factors of Kineasthetic
Feedback to be developed.
The early training methods of relaxation are crucial
in the sense that the shooter, once the full training
program is mastered, will be able to recognise any
small development in muscle control that could
well have an influence on the position of the shot
on the target. This is particularly so in standing and
kneeling shooting, as neither of these positions
have the advantage of a very large support
platform that prone shooting utilises. Not to be outdone
however, is that prone shooting also is dependent
on the shooters ability to register any minute
differences in the structure of each single shot,
because the demands of skill for prone shooting
is nearing 100% performance levels. (The world
records for both Prone, and standing air rifle, are
100% scores!)
It should be understood right now, that progressive
muscle relaxation needs to be mastered first as a
skill, because so much depends on the future ability
to expand your mental skills to the point where the
mind is the controlling factor of performance levels.
So much so, that the generation of high performance
stuff is a complete sub conscious mind factor.
I will finish this section with an example that will
make you think, big time.
Can any of you remember when a shot went off
without you thinking about the release? The hold
was developed, the aiming centered, and it just went
‘Blap!’
Usually you will think “Blimey what happened there?”
You rip your head off the stock, zoom into the
spotting scope or target machine, and there it is…
huge relief…
smack in the middle? That, shooters is sub
conscious mind control, and I assure you all it can
be trained into your techniques…..
This is what I call, Mind Stuff.
Target Shooter 67
INTERSHOOT
IN STOCK AT BEST PRICES!!

Anschutz Precise Stocks

Gemini Buttplates
SCATT Systems

If you see a cheaper price

on ANYTHING we will try and
match or beat it!!

PROUD SPONSORS OF THE BISLEY JUNIOR INTERNATIONAL

Supplying the latest and best equipment from the worlds top manufacturers
Regular special offers, demo equipment and package deals

### NOW SUPPLYING LILJA BARRELS AS USED IN BLEIKER RIFLES!! ###

www.intershoot.co.uk

To introduce our selves we are the United Kingdom Association of

Rimfire and Air Rifle Benchrest Shooting. By that we mean "True
Benchrest Shooting". The Association is recognised by rimfire
shooters across in the UK, with partners across Europe and the rest of
the world, as the presentative body that promotes rimfire and air rifle
benchrest across this country and with other partners in European and
World events.
Visit our website for news about national and international
competitions that all can ‘have a go at’. From novice to champion
shooter, everyone is welcome
www.benchrest22.org

68 Target Shooter
 International shooting - An insight

By Hayley Platts
It’s a great honour to represent your country, to throw your normal routine out of kilter which can in
realise you are good enough and have worked turn affect your shooting performance.
hard enough to be sent to foreign shores to fly
the flag on the range. For many it will be a pipe Travelling
dream and never a reality unfortunately, so from the More often than not the chosen team will all meet
perspective of someone who has been lucky up either prior to, or at the airport itself which will
enough to travel and compete abroad for England for most people mean a trek to Heathrow at an
and Great Britain here is a little resume of some of ungodly hour and I can certainly remember many
the things that don’t immediately come to mind. regional coach trips in the early hours to get to the
airport in time. This is point one, make sure you get
Certainly in my case a few years ago, the first thing plenty of sleep and rest before a trip as they are often
in the chain of events for even getting on the plane mentally and physically long tiring days while you
was a set of trials over a weekend to determine are away and it gives your body a boost to have
individuals and team places - pressure situation stored up some good rest before you go. Luggage
when you know the outcome means either success wise I think I always arrived overseas with some
and a place booked at the international or failure sort of muscular problem despite my levels of
and not making the trip or trips. This could be fitness, due to so much essential shooting
especially tricky mentally if you have geared all your luggage to haul about en route to the airport, and
training preparations to a main goal internationally also from coaches into hotels with no lifts or just a
and it then all rides on one set of trials. long way from the coach drop off point. In my time
I have been glad to tap up physio friends from other
I’m not sure if this was the best system as in many country’s teams! to help ease strains and injuries
cases the best performances were given at the which would otherwise impact negatively on my
trials and to a certain extent mentally the pressure shooting. I am fortunate though to be a good
was off when you were on the international stage. traveller but for some it can be an utter misery, just
Where qualification scores have to be attained the act of getting to that international they have
throughout a season, this gives a good clue to those fought so hard to gain a place for, as many people
performing consistently well and able to shoot high are terrified of flying, which brings on additional
scores regularly. anxiety and negativity, and some get travel sick on
long coach journeys, so all of these things have to
Shooting and competing on the UK circuit is a whole be thought about and addressed.
different ball game to that of being part of a national
team abroad. Lots of things which are part of Team mates
your normal routine are completely different away Let’s face it, not everyone feels at ease with a whole
from home. In the main at home, even if you are group of other people. A team is put together on
travelling to an open shoot and even staying over ability and in most cases nowadays this is a group
for two days of competition, it is your own normal of shooters who pretty much know each other
comfortable environment; being surrounded by inside out as they train and compete together
family and friends, familiar food and restaurants, regularly. However as with any group of people
TV and radio in your room. It doesn’t take much to placed together it is not always going to be one big
Target Shooter 69
happy family. Some are more comfortable alone
or with just a couple of people and this would be
their routine and comfort zone in the UK. Being
part of team of people means you have to regularly The Place to
compromise and go along with the majority
decisions as well as the noise and banter a larger Shop at Bisley
group of people invariably create. A well prepared
team should also think carefully about rooming
arrangements and who shares with who. There is The NSRA,
nothing worse than being paired off with someone
you don’t get on with, which just creates tension Lord Roberts Centre
and an atmosphere where neither feels comfortable Now in stock ~ the popular
in the time spent in that room which at times should Morini CM84E ISSF ‘Longarm’ Free Pistol
be a haven from the pressures of competition and
also sometimes a makeshift training range! Not
only do personalities need to pair up ideally but also
consider things like not putting the person who likes
to come back to the room late or read late with the Price: ~ £1236.00
FAC Required
person who likes to go to bed early and rise early.
I heard so many complaints on these levels and it
just serves to cause tension, and the feeling of not
being happy while you are away, and as we know
the mental side of the sport plays a major role and
if the person is not happy and comfortable the less
chance of there being an optimum performance
on the range. I must admit my best performances
overseas were when I roomed with, and was on
a team with people I really got on with and felt
comfortable with.

Equipment Control
The excitement of being at a big shooting event
and seeing all of your competitors in their smart
national tracksuits, seeing the trade stands and
all of the arena decked out with publicity posters
is just great. You get a real sense of being at the
pinnacle of your sport and here you are ready to
get the gun checked and off you go to training and
then your match. It’s a great chance to see the gun
manufacturers, form great working relationships
with them and have your guns serviced by the
very top engineers. The same goes for the
ammunition companies and it’s nice to talk to the very
knowledgeable people who are behind the
technology that enables us to shoot so well. If
you are lucky some of the gun manufacturers will
work with you individually to make bespoke guns
tailored to your specific requirements, which of
course is also to their benefit as they often increase
the chances of claiming world and major titles.
The business of equipment control can be a scary
intro to the event though, with some extremely
stringent checks being performed on every element
of your shooting equipment and clothing, especially
when you see furrowed brows and the officials
all talking in a language you don’t understand. If
70 Target Shooter
A wide range of pistols and rifles available, -
Anschütz, Walther, Morini, BSA, Air Arms,
Webley Limited, Steyr, Feinwerkbau.
Accessories from leading manufacturers Centra,
Gehmann, HPS, VFG, Walther; AHG, Knobloch,
Champion, Opticron, Hawke, BSA and many more.
Shooting Mats from Evans and HPS.
Gun Safes from Bratton Sound.
Ammunition from Eley, RWS, HPS Target Master,
SK, Lapua - including Air Gun Ammunition
Optics from Tasco, BSA, Hawke, MTC, AGS.
Clothing from Kurt Thune, Realtree, Holme,
Anschütz, Gehmann, AKAH.
We stock guns and Accessories for Field Target
and Hunter Field Target Disciplines
With many more items too numerous to mention so
come browse and ask if you don’t see what you
want. You’ll get a warm welcome, the best objective
advice, the right product at the right price with a
comprehensive after sales service.
Further information from out website
www.nsra.co.uk
Shop Tel: 01483 485510
Shop Fax: 01483 488817
E-mail: sales@nsra.co.uk
they find something does not fully comply with the
strict rules and regulations you will not be allowed
to compete. Coaches often come prepared ready
to adjust items and shave bits of boots etc if the
scrutineers are interpreting a rule differently from
the last international (where incidentally you
complied!). The policy of never going there alone is
a very good one.
Competition and training times
When you are competing in the UK it is almost
always pretty sociable times during the day,
although most of us tend to fit in our training at
the end of the working day so we are usually on
the range in an evening. In quite a few instances
abroad due to the events on the schedule it
becomes a necessity for some of the shooters to
get an unsociable shooting time which can come
as a shock to the system. Add into this the fact
you have moved into a different time zone and also
may have encountered jet lag. Sometimes you will
find yourself on the range at 7am (probably 6am UK
time) having been out of your hotel and travelling
perhaps for the previous hour. There are some
positives in an early shooting time apart from those
who really are not morning people! in that you are
possibly still fairly relaxed and have not had hours
to get unduly nervous. Particular attention needs to
be given to warming up more thoroughly to get the
body supple to shoot, more so than later in the day,
and ensuring you have eaten just enough to sustain
you through the shoot without taking too much food
on board which won’t have time to digest.
I was lucky enough to have keys to my club range
and prior to going overseas I often trained really
early morning to prepare myself for this so it wouldn’t
come as a shock to the system when it really
mattered on match day.
At the other end of the scale you can find yourself
on the shooting schedule for the very end of the
day, having been at the range from early morning
supporting your team mates. I feel really
strongly that everyone is individual and what works
as match preparation for one shooter may be the very
opposite for another. Personally it winds me up
massively being on the range for too long when
I am not shooting and I could guarantee that if I
was forced to sit on a range day after day before
my event came along overseas I would have a
bad competition. Despite results showing much
better results for the times I was allowed to be on
the range as little as possible it was always seen as
not the correct and usual preparation, and therefore
frowned upon.
The allocation of training times for the various
disciplines is usually not long periods of time, with
firing points and strict times given for the teams to
adhere to. It was whilst attending some of my first
internationals that I found I needed to be as good
as the next shooter with some great elbow tactics!
I had never encountered such a cattle market of
people all jostling to get range space. Stand back
and be polite and you never would get any time to
train. You always need to familiarise yourself with
a new range, the lighting will almost certainly seem
different, the size of the stadium and crowd and
ensuring you feel comfortable and not overwhelmed.
It’s also about soaking up the atmosphere with all
the different nationalities, coaching staff and most
importantly understanding everything you need to
know procedure wise and what to do and who to
alert if you encounter difficulties during your match.
One thing which can be a whole new experience
is cameras filming around you, especially for
major events or host countries who are particularly
interested in shooting events. If you are not
prepared for it, you can find that your concentration
is taken up with thoughts of the camera instead
of the task in hand. It can be quite disconcerting
when a camera stops right behind you (maybe to
film the Olympic Champion alongside you which
happened to me once) but all the same you can start
to feel inadequate or try too hard, but all the while
not be doing what you should be doing, and that is
ignoring it and executing accurate shots. Even
when you’re not shooting it can be a little unnerving
to have zoom lenses and cameras pushed right up
in your face!
And finally …..
The memories of representing your country will
always stay with you. My fondest memories are
of the ones which involve ceremonies and lines
of competitors coming in behind their flag, all the
competitors staying together in official hotels or
villages and the enthusiasm of the host town or city.
The feeling that you have proved good enough to be
given the chance to compete for your country and
to carry that out to the best of your ability cometh
the hour. The results will often take you back to the
drawing board when you return home or reinforce
your belief that you really can mix it with the best in
the world and therefore fire your enthusiasm to train
even harder. Whatever the outcome it is something
to always be proud of as well as being part of a
small percentage of people who are gifted enough
to be a representative of the country in sport.
Target Shooter 71
 SURREYGUNS
Special offer
Twinmaster Match Air pistol £550
Please view our new website for great deals on
BSA,Walther,Rohm,Air Arms,Prestige,Umarex.

We also have an extensive range of Second hand Air

and Firearms.

New in stock Surrey Guns own branded Rifle scope

range X-Fire.

Major stock of
Walther,Feinwerkbau,Hammerli,Benelli,Pardini,SAM
and Morini target rifles and Pistols.

Remember if we don,t stock it we can get it let us be

your one stop shop for all shooting diciplines

www.surreyguns.com
0208 647 7742
open: Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm
email: INFO@SURREYGUNS.COM
7 Manor Road, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 0BW

72 Target Shooter
By Gwyn Roberts
Around 40 shooters turned up to shoot the 2010 *any type or size of magazine may be used but they
Mattersey Steel match on Sunday 18th July, may only be loaded with a maximum of 10 rounds
at their excellent range complex up in north
Nottinghamshire. or my friend Alan Bennett and I
I don’t really like it when you have to shoot the same
this meant a 600 mile round trip, but it was certainly
5 or 6 targets in front of you all of the time as I find it
well worth the effort as there really is nothing more
pretty boring to be honest and it doesn’t require you
addictive than shooting reactive targets! The main
to think about things much either, apart from hitting
Mattersey Steel match has only been shot with small
them as fast as you can that is. Thankfully the
bore rifles in the past but this year the organisers
Mattersey Steel isn’t a spray & pray match, and the
also included 5 full bore stages as well, and this gave
huge variety of different size and shaped targets
people the choice of shooting either GRSB, GRCF,
ensures that skill, accuracy, speed and a bit of brain
LBP or LBR on the day. For those who have never
power are all needed on the day. Although many
shot this type of match before the rules are pretty
of the courses of fire were pretty straight forwards,
simple and they were: having a senior moment or switching off at any
*eye and ear protection is mandatory for everyone
time during a stage would ensure your overall
on the ranges performance took a serious nose dive at the end
*all rounds must be carried on a belt or in a pocket
of the day. Let’s face it though, counting to nine,
*magazines may be carried on the person or placed
dropping the magazine, inserting a fresh one and
on the tables provided then shooting groups of ten shots in between reloads
*any magazines that drop onto the floor are deemed
isn’t the hardest thing in the world to do is it? Neither
to be unusable unless the firearm is cleared and
is remembering which 2 different positions you have
benched before picking it up to shoot from, or the fact that you must reload a
Below - It was excellent fun shooting it with fresh magazine before you engage the stop plate.
an LBP These are all very basic things that we do when we
shoot, so why is it that everything seems to go out
of the window once we hear a little beep coming
from a timer then? Oh, the joys of steel shooting! In
addition to the pressures of shooting against the
clock, every missed plate incurred a 5 second
penalty, as did every shot that was fired as a
procedural error ie from the wrong shoulder, targets

There’s nothing like a barbie and beer

after the shooting has finished

Target Shooter 73
 clock stopped when the stop plate was
knocked down.
Although the organisers had placed
numbered cards in front of each group
of plates to help people along, it was still
pretty difficult to engage the targets
smoothly as you had to keep scanning
backwards and forwards across the
whole target array to try and find the
next group of plates to engage. Trying to
count your shots so that you could change
magazines at the right time so that you
Betsy Walker really enjoyed competing in her first didn’t have to rack the action again also
steel match added to the challenge, and quite a few
people wasted a lot time firing well aimed
out of sequence etc. For anyone unfortunate enough “clickers” instead of live rounds, but this
not to be able to complete the given course of fire, only added to the fun (or frustration) of it all. Having
there were also par times ranging from between 15 only 5 spare rounds to play with meant you had to
and 100 seconds that were given as your finishing pick your shots carefully and make each one of them
time, onto which any misses were also added, but count, otherwise your stage time was going to rise
fortunately not many of these were incurred on the pretty dramatically.
day.
Stage 2 was a straight forward speed shoot in which
All of the rimfire shooting (rifle and pistol) was done you had to knock down five 4in plates and then the

Rimfire Stages 1 2 & 3

at around 15m and Stage 1 in the Rimfire class
allowed 4 mags of ten rounds and a stop plate
magazine (10 rnds) with which to engage 35 odd
shaped targets from the sitting position. The plates
had been randomly arranged into groups of 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 plates and they had to be knocked
down in numerical order before moving on to the
next group of plates. Once the 40 rounds had been
shot, a compulsory reload had to be made and the
stop plate in order to stop the clock, starting from the
45deg ready position. This was done for a total of 5
runs which all counted for the total stage time, and
the 8 fastest individual runs would get you through to
the man v man final, that was to be held at the end
of the day. The fastest average runs were around 3.6
seconds, and these times also included a few “not so
good” ones as well so the standard was certainly up
there on the day.

Full bore stage 2

74 Target Shooter
 stage as all of the controls are on the
“strong” side and this did lead to more
than one comedy of error moments
on the day. Trying to both curse, clear
malfunctions and operate controls
that are the wrong way around all at
the same time, is pretty hard to do I
can tell you!

The Mover on Stage 5 has usually

been the one that either won or lost

Above - Fullbore stage 3

Stage 3 was the pool shoot which was shot twice

and comprised fourteen alternate red & white plates
with a black stop plate in the middle. This was the
only match that had a limit of 5 rounds in each
magazine and you started each run with 2
magazines for the plates, and one mag for the stop
plate. The start for this one was with the slide locked
open on an unloaded rifle or pistol. Then, when the
buzzer sounded, the shooter had to put their hand
into a bag and pull out a ball which indicated the
colour of the plates that they would have to knock
down before they eventually took down the stop
plate. I must admit there is something quite funny
about watching someone pick out a red ball and then
start to shoot down the white plates so with this in
mind, I kept calling out the colour of the plates I was
supposed to be shooting at, just in case!

Stage 4 was an all weak hand stage which had 25

plates of various shapes and sizes to knock down
(or just shoot at) before again ending with a stop
plate. Starting at 45 degrees, the shooters had three
magazines of 10 rounds along with another which
could only be used on the stop plate. Once again,
those who were able to count their shots so that they
reloaded at the right time faired better than most, Mick Tedesco getting ready to
but it was certainly tricky shooting an LBP on this
put in another very good
Below - Fullbore stage 4 performance

you the match, and once again this year

was no exception as only one person
cleaned it! This time though the match
was shot twice with the best run to count,
and you started with four mags of 10 to
engage the 40 plates that were placed in
the backstop. Starting from 45 degrees,
you could start to engage the plates in
any order as soon as you saw the mover
target appear from behind the screen
on the right hand side of the range. It
sounds pretty simple, but you can only

Target Shooter 75
 Rimfire stage 4
shoot the targets that are actually in front of the
mover target, and not those behind it which obviously
makes the job a lot harder. Once you had fired your
first 10 rounds you then had to reload quickly but you
could only start to engage the targets again once
the mover had re-appeared which would now be
moving left to right. For most people the waiting
wasn’t a problem as the mover was well on its way
back again before they had even had time to think
about reloading. Two more passes of the mover
went on to complete the first part of the match. Any
shots that hit the screens, the mover target face, or
any plates that were behind the mover target each
incurred a 5 second penalty, and there was no time
whatsoever for any brain fade or malfunctions during
this stage as the mover just kept going and going.
This was definitely the stage that you didn’t want a
jam on because it would spell instant disaster for you
as the time was tight to start with, and unfortunately
this happened to more than one person on the day
ruining any chance they had of doing well in the
process.
Stage 6 was the dreaded (for most of us) Snooker
match and this consisted of six red 6” plates that
were flanked by two pyramids of colours with the
Clive Ferguson on stage 1 Rimfire
76 Target Shooter
yellows being 6” in diameter, greens 5”, browns 4”,
blues 3”, pinks 2” and the blacks were an elusive 1”
each. You started with two 10 rounds mags for the
plates and an additional one that was to be used for
the stop plate only. The idea in this match was to
knock down a red, and then move to (and stick to)
one of the colour pyramids where you then took one
shot only at a colour of your choice. Whether you hit
it or not you then had to go back and drop another
red before returning to the colours again for another
single shot. This pattern was repeated until all of the
reds had been shot down (and a final shot at the
colours had been taken) before you then swapped
over to the opposite pyramid where you had to knock
the plates down in the proper order ie yellow, green,
brown, blue, pink then black. Now for those who
have played a little snooker before this was pretty
straight forwards, but for those of us who don’t, it
was shall we say a little more challenging to say the
least! There’s nothing like knocking down the first 12
plates in a really quick time before switching over to
the last bank of targets and then dropping the very
small black plate down the moment it appeared in
your sights…. Only to then have the R.O shout “foul”
and then remind you of the proper order in which you
should have knocked them down. Aaaaargh! Think
I’ll write down an idiots guide next
time and place it in front of me
before I start pulling the trigger.
At least I wasn’t the only one who
screwed up on this stage though
thankfully, as a number of people
also came out from the range with
a rather bemused look on their
face so not to worry. On this stage,
any plates left standing incurred
the snooker value in seconds with
any foul shots scoring 4 seconds
or above, and a par time of 60
seconds (plus any penalties) would
be given to anyone who failed to
knock the stop plate down.
There were 5 ranges set up for
the Underlevers/LBR’s with the
targets out between 10 and 25m
 reduced Bianchi tombstone target
were only about 3” wide and 5” high
which didn’t leave too much room
for error.

Stage 3 required a bit of swift

movement as it was a small run
down stage and it also required
some quick reloading skills in
order to get a good time on it. It
consisted of 40 plates with each
competitor starting loaded with 10
rounds (again 6 or 7 with an LBR)
and carrying the spare 30 rounds
John Kime welcoming the Llandudno guys to stage 3 to reload with somewhere on their
person. You started on the right
and stage 1 was a pure speed match shooting on a hand side of the range behind a
standard 6 plate Bianchi rack at 10m. The shooter barricade which you could use for support if you
started in the 45deg ready position with as many wished, and engaged the small Bianchi tombstone
rounds loaded as they liked, and had five runs plates directly in front of you. The action then had
with all of them to count so no “throwaways” were to be racked open (chamber obviously empty)
allowed, and this did catch a few people out who before you moved forward 5m to a designated
were trying their best to make their barrels glow. The shooting box inside which you could then reload and
fastest average on this stage with an LBR was 3.5 engage the diamond and spade shaped plates. The
seconds with the quickest underlevers just under the same movement with an unloaded gun continued
4 second mark, so there was plenty of good shooting further forward to engage some larger tombstone
done by a few individuals on the day. plates until you finally arrived at the final barricade
to shoot the remaining club and diamond shaped
Stage 2 had 20 plates out at around 25m and targets. This one was definitely not a stage to turn up
consisted of 2 runs with both of the times to count. at without an ammo belt or similar, as carrying your
On the first run, each shooter started loaded with spare rounds in your pocket was a distinct recipe for
10 rounds (or either 6 or 7 in an LBR) sitting on a disaster as some people found out on the day. Oh
chair and had to engage 10 targets from this position well, another lesson learned as they say!
holding the gun in their weak shoulder/hand, before
reloading and engaging the remaining 10 plates Stage 4 was shot entirely from behind a barricade at
from the weak shoulder/hand kneeling position. The around 15m which you could use for support if you
same was then repeated but this time using a strong wanted to, and there were 30 playing card shaped
hand hold. It was certainly a challenge shooting targets that were split into 3 separate banks.
from your weak side from both of these positions but Shooters started loaded with 10 rounds and had to
once again it added good variety to the match and it start by engaging the left hand bank of plates first
definitely made you work hard for your points as the from the left side of the barricade. The action then
had to be racked open whilst changing positions and
the final 20 plates had to be engaged from the
right hand side of the barricade. A simple enough
stage really if your scope rings don’t come loose,
but that’s a different story!

Stage 5 only had 20 mixed red and white plates

on it which were a mixture of playing card shapes
but once again this stage was a source of
amusement for quite a few people, especially the
R.O’s. It was shot twice and you started loaded
with 10 rounds with the R.O grinning at you with
4 large playing cards in his hands. On the beep
you had to pull out and turn over a card to see
what shape it was and then simply hit everything
Mel Beard half way through a slick mag
else on the plate racks except the shape that you
change
had selected! Now there seems to be a part of a

Target Shooter 77
Rimfire stage 6

shooters brain that has difficulty in separating one
shape from another when shooting steels, and this
is further compounded when there are two different
colours of plates that are being used. You really had
to be there to appreciate the looks on some peoples
faces once they had started shooting as you could
see the cogs whirring around inside their heads
just trying to engage a gear, but it just wasn’t clear
to them exactly what they should or shouldn’t be
shooting. Again I took the idiots approach and kept
blurting out “don’t shoot the spades,” “don’t shoot the
spades” which must have looked comical but I didn’t
really care, as this was probably the match that I
enjoyed shooting the most as it really was something
different!
Whilst Dale Pearmain was finishing off computing
the days results in the stats room, the fastest 8
shooters from the rimfire stage 2 match went head
to head in a man v man match. For those not
familiar with it, this match is run on a knockout basis
and the rifles are placed unloaded on a table facing
downrange with two shooters sat down on a chair
about 15m away, with a plastic cup in their hand.
On the buzzer, they must run forwards and place

Rude Fat Dog

Custom Firearms
RFD 621 Devon & Cornwall
Section 5
We are the ONLY dedicated company who can supply the products and
technical expertise to help you become more competitive in your
Gallery Rifle competitions

Introducing the Target-Hunter barrel from KID. This high accuracy .920”
solid Stainless Steel ‘Bull’ barrel is available in 12.5”, 14” and 16”
versions. The barrel is threaded ½”x 28 and is supplied with a stainless
steel thread protector. We can supply moderators to suit.
www.rudefatdog.com
78 Tel: Shooter
Target +44(0)1271 865865 Fax: +44(0)1271 865830
 in it certainly enjoyed themselves.

Mal Dukes and Pete Whomersley conducted the

prize giving and it was a nice surprise to see plenty
of goodies ranging from gun slips and cleaning gear,
to bricks of .22 ammo and bottles of wine laid out for
the lucky winners to choose from that accompanied
the usual medals. A special thanks must go to
Gary from York Guns for once again giving his very
generous support to the club and very kindly
sponsored all of the prizes for the shotgun
competitions, so thanks very much Gary from all of
us. Another sponsor for this year’s match who also
needs to be thanked for his valued support was
James Watson from DSS Rifles who supplied many
of the prizes for the Gallery Rifle matches so once
again a big thanks to you James.

The biggest thanks must obviously go to all of the

organizers for all of their hard work and effort that
made the event the success that it was. Peter H,
Richie Schofield shooting weak shoulder Byron, Mal, Simon, John, Pete W, Martin and the
kneeling on stage 2 Full bore rest of the guys did an excellent job once again in
providing us with a safe and very enjoyable match,
that was testing and had a good variety of courses
the cup on the end of a pole at the firing point, rack
of fire mixed in and we are all now looking forward to
their rifles and then knock down all of the plates on
next years Mattersey Steel!
their side of the range before engaging and knocking
down a stop plate in the middle. With a maximum
GRSB
of three runs allowed the first shooter to win 2 runs
1st Gwyn Roberts 197.16s
advances to the next round and this format is then
2nd Mel Beard 197.34s
repeated until a winner is reached. Unsurprisingly, as
3rd Richard Schofield 233.31s
he tends to win most of the GR speed steel events,
this turned out to be Mel Beard on the day who shot
GRCF
both consistently and obviously very quickly too so
1st Mel Beard 381.65s
well done to you mate!
2nd Mick Tedesco 390.79s
3rd Gwyn Roberts 391.52s
Enjoyment certainly was the order of the day at the
Mattersey Steel match and there wasn’t a single
LBP
person on the range who had not thoroughly
1st Gwyn Roberts 215.23s
enjoyed themselves on the day, irrespective of
2nd Clive Ferguson 477.07s
whether had actually shot well or not. Everyone
3rd Mike Shields 525.55s
botched something up somewhere along the line
and this is what makes steel shooting such an
LBR
exciting type of competition as nothing is ever
1st Mel Beard 372.87s
straight forwards, and nothing ever goes to plan,
2nd Bob Peace 442.22s
all of the time! As well as the main Gallery Rifle
3rd J Liew 610.70s
competitions being shot, there were also some
speed steel matches being run for both section 1
If you fancy having a go at one of the “action” type
and 2 shotguns over in the shotgun pit and a great
Gallery Rifle matches Mattersey will be hosting a 7
time was had by all who took part in this match
match Bianchi competition for GRCF, GRSB, LBR
too. Semi autos, pumps, over and under and even
& LBP’s on 19th September and both novice and
side by side shotguns could be used and you shot
experienced shooters are welcome to attend. There
man v man style (without the running) against an
will be plenty of old hands around to advise and help
opponent at pepper poppers and a stop plate laid out
you through each of the matches if you need it so
in a horseshoe configuration. There was certainly
look at the Galleryrifle.com or matterseyrapc.org.
some friendly rivalry going on between both friends
uk websites for more details.
and club mates, and again everyone who took part

Target Shooter 79
Thoughts from the National Rifle Association
The Imperial Meeting is now becoming a fading
memory as life gets back to some kind of normality.
However, I’m sure that Wg Cdr D Calvert, who won
the Queen’s Prize with 297.37, is still on cloud 9. He’s
been second on three occasions and as he went to
collect his gold badge there was a tremendous roar
from the RAF scoreboard team of “About time too”! Will
he be the first to retain it, watch this space next year....

David Luckman must also be flying high having won

an amazing 17 competitions culminating in winning
the Grand Aggregate, only dropping 7 points to get a
score of 698.106.
The F Class Open Queens Prize was won by David
Kent scoring 153 with George Barnard winning the
FTR Queens scoring 129.7. David also won the
F Open Grand Aggregate with 938 points whilst
Paul Eggeman from Germany took the FTR Grand
Aggregate with 864 points.
Your scribe wasn’t too disappointed with her first
Imperial as an F Class shooter, finishing 6th in the
FTR Grand Aggregate but realising quite early on that
reading the wind with a scoped rifle is, for me, a lot
harder that with TR sights. More practise required....
Friday 23rd July was the official NRA 150th
celebration evening with most clubs on camp joining
in the festivities. Dragon Fireworks put on a brilliant
display set to music. The evening was completely
still, as opposed to the forecast which was for strong
winds. This meant that there was a low level cloud
of firework smoke that lit up as others went through
it, adding an almost eerie element to the spectacle.

80 Target Shooter

Friday was also the first day of the CLA Game Fair
held at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire. The NRA have
a stand at the show each year to raise our image
within the sporting gun world. This seems to have
had the desired effect with the number of members
who are sporting shots rising steadily over the last
few years. They seem to appreciate the facilities
we offer as well as our comprehensive insurance
cover. Mind you, once they discover Bisley and
all the other disciplines available, several have
expanded their interests and do a lot more target
shooting as well as their sporting shoots. Chris
Webb, Nick Halford, Sarah Wells and Charles Perry
represented us there and were kept busy discussing
all things target shooting. The next fair we are at
will be the British Shooting Show in Newark next
February so if you are in the area, come along and
have a chat.
There’s no peace for the wicked and the weekend
after the end of the Imperial saw Bisley inundated
with hotrod cars and their rock and roll loving
owners. The sound of revving engines blends well with
the loud music – apparently. There wasn’t a patch of
green to be seen that didn’t have either a tent or a car
on it, apart from the ranges, and everyone seemed
to be having a great time. Sights to be had included
a freak show, wall of death, tattoo parlour and art
display as well as a carting track laid down on the road
outside our offices. Those of you familiar with Bisley
may wonder at how the carts coped with the speed
bumps, well they seemed to add a certain amount
of spice to the runs and karts bounce quite high!
Most of the hotrods left on the Sunday and the
estate staff had barely cleared up when the
engine noises and loud music started again.
This time it was the turn of the Harley-Davidson
motorbikes coupled with rock music. Personally,
much more to my taste nowadays as I can still
headbang but cannot jive anymore..... It’s great to
see the estate being used for events like this as it
has helped introduce more people into our sport
(especially amongst the bikers) and to de-mystify it
a bit.
We have the September Bisley Open Day looming
fast. This takes place on September 11th. As I write
there are still places available for this one but they
are filling up fast. You will need to register online,
via our website, for this one as we have to limit the
number of places to around 1000 to make sure
that we give our guests a great day with as little
queuing as possible. Reports and pictures from
both this one and the Altcar Open Day will be in next
months’ issue.
The NRA shooting club held a guest day earlier this
month and members brought along 33 guests to
shoot at 600 yards. Charles and Nick ran the day
and at one point ran out of ammo! We have another
two days being organised at the moment, one at 200
yards for prone rifle and one on Melville for Gallery
Rifle and Black-powder revolvers.
Glynn Alger and Chris Webb are working hard on the
issue of reduced availability for our clubs on MoD
ranges. We await with interest the outcome of the
defence review in October and how it will affect our
clubs. Some clubs may have to become a bit more
flexible with their bookings - distances, disciplines
shot etc so that clubs can share bookings. The NRA
is currently building a forum website to help facilitate
this. As soon as it is ready we will let all our clubs
know about it. Some range bye-laws state that
civilians cannot use the range unless there is a
military presence and this could seriously affect the
clubs using those ranges. Once we get the result of
the review we will be in a better position to assess
the impact, if any, on NRA clubs. Again, watch this
space.
Thought I’d finish this month with a saying
that Chris has taped up on his filing cupboard:
You don’t stop playing because you get old, you get
old because you stopped playing.
In our sport, that is so true!
Target Shooter 81
 VINCE’S REGULAR COLUMN WHEREBY
ACCURACY NUTS CAN KEEP UP TO
DATE WITH THE ACTIVITIES OF THE UKBRA
HV winner, Neil Hutton with his 6PPC Borden
September 2010 Competitions
Round 4 of our 100/1000 yard competitions took
place at Diggle at the beginning of August. Ian Dixon,
our 2009 Champion has won the first three rounds
outright and so looks destined to retain his 100 yard
UKBRA Championship but then, Ian had to undergo
some pretty drastic surgery so that ruled him out for
our August round. Thankfully all went well and Ian is
on the road to recovery.
As usual, it was a pretty difficult day wind-wise and
Neil ‘Shrek’ Hutton took his first ever win – a very
popular result. You could be forgiven for thinking
that Neil’s win came as a result of Ian’s absence but
no, Neil’s sub. quarter MOA agg. was respectable by
anyone’s standard.
82 Target Shooter
The Factory Sporter class is becoming something
of a Darrel Evans ‘benefit’ shoot and today was no
exception with Darrel shooting a remarkable 0.358
agg. with his 6PPC Sako and putting many HV
shooters to shame. He also took the FS small-group
award with a superb 0.280 incher.
Results:
Heavy Varmint
1st Neil Hutton 6PPC TGP Borden
0.249 inches (av. of five, 5-shot groups)
2nd Vince Bottomley 6PPC TGP BAT
0.284 in.
3rd Jack Searle 6PPC TGP Stolle
0.296 in.
Light Gun winner Jack Gibb with his 6.5-284 Stolle
Small group: Jeanette Whitney 6PPC TGP
Stolle 0.113 inches
Factory Sporter
1st Darrel Evans 6PPC Sako slice of ‘humble pie’. The knowledgeable Mr Holland
0.358 inches
2nd Darren Grundle 308 Sako inches! He also shot a ‘five’ and a ‘seven’ to prove
0.569 in.
3rd Andy Woolley 6PPC Sako eight-inch agg. Jack Gibb took the Light Gun win with
0.611 in.
Small group: Darrel Evans 0.280 inches
Although the weather was fine for our 1000 yard
shoot the following day, the wind was still twitchy
enough to catch out the unwary. As the shoot was
the weekend before the F Class League shoot at
Blair Atholl, a clutch of ‘effers’ turned up to use the
comp. for a bit of load-testing – great, it all adds to
the fun!
Laurie Holland was one of the effers, with his new
223 F/TR rifle which you may have read about in the
August issue and this issue of Target Shooter. Now
I’ve already stated that I’m sceptical that a 223 can
ever be competitive with a 308 at extreme ranges
but dear reader, I am currently choking on a large
proceeded to astound us all with a group of four
it was no fluke and finished fourth overall with an
his 6.5-284 Stolle, put together by Osprey Rifles.
My own UK record of 2.67 inches was also
momentarily threatened when Mike Weatherhead
banged-in a 3.1 inch group! In fact, there were no
less than 37 single-figure groups – the gods of
benchrest were certainly smiling on us today!
Factory Sporter shooter Alan Seagrave also won
his first ever comp. with a sub. ten-inch agg. and
a fantastic small-group of 5.838 inches with his
absolutely standard 6.5x55 Tikka, blowing the
usually dominant 6.5-284 Savages of Lenton, Watts
and Kellett into the Diggle weeds!
Results:
Light Gun
1st Jack Gibb 6.5-284 Stolle
7.76 in. (av. of four, 5-shot groups)
2nd Mike Weatherhead 7WSM Walker
Sako 7.77 in.
3 Russ Gall
rd
7WSM RGR
Stolle 8.22 in.
Small group:
Mike Weatherhead 3.182 inches
Factory Sporter
1st Alan Seagrave 6.5x55 Tikka
Target Shooter 83

9.97 inches
2nd Ian Kellett 6.5-284 Savage12.21 in.
3rd Bruce Lenton 6.5-284 Savage13.27 in.
Small group: Alan Seagrave 5.838 inches
The Diggle Fly Shoot
This annual event for accuracy-nuts took place in
August and you can read a full report elsewhere in
this issue of Target Shooter.
New stuff
Every now and then, someone comes up with a
really useful bit of kit which doesn’t cost the earth.
Here’s one I picked up on my last visit to Tim Hannam.
I much prefer to carry out my load-development
on-range if possible. It’s much quicker than bringing
along pre-loaded rounds then finding they are not
right and having to repeat the exercise the following
week. I prefer to take a couple of dozen primed cases,
my scales, powder and bullets and load on the point.
Problem is – how do you mount your loading press to
seat the bullets? Lee have now solved that problem
with a dirt-cheap bit of kit that I’ve been dreaming of
making myself but never got around to it.
The photos will explain things better than I can. The
kit contains three plywood trapezoid-shaped ‘plates’
84 Target Shooter
to screw to the bottom of your
presses – one of them is pre-drilled
to take any Lee press but it only
took me a couple of minutes to drill
one of the others for my little RCBS
Partner press. The kit even includes
clever ‘flat-head’ bolts for the press
and also for the steel ‘bench-plate’
– simple, effective and, at less than
£25, an absolute bargain. Now we
have one plate permanently fixed at
the range, other shooters are free to
use it with their presses.
Stock tape
All benchrest shooters use
super-slippy PTFE stock tape so
that their rifle will slide in the bags
without ‘stiction’ - which can be a cause of ‘vertical’
stringing – F Class shooters please note! We have
always had to send to America for this self-adhesive
tape and although it is modestly priced, it isn’t when
you add postage, VAT etc. and the last lot cost me
$28! Now Jon, a Target Shooter reader, has sourced
the tape in the UK.
We ran this in our June issue but at the last
benchrest match someone asked me to remind them
of the supplier. I can confirm that the tape is exactly
the same as you can buy from America and you
get enough for two rifles for £10.95 including p&p.
Contact Jon at jon@hammie.co.uk if you want
some.
 In association with
My name is Jake Healey I am fourteen and I live
with my mum, dad and younger brother Scott in
Mirfield west Yorkshire. I first started shooting air
guns with my dad in the back garden like most kids.
I am now a member of Paul lane rifle and pistol
club where I have been a member since I was
12. My dad has been a member for some years
but because of the insurance restrictions juniors
under the age of twelve are prohibited on the
range. When I first joined I had no interest in any
type of competitive shooting.
As I started trying the different shooting
disciplines I was fortunate to find that shooting
people in general are keen to pass on there
skills and knowledge of firearms to the younger
generation. I found myself in the position to
shoot a variety of disciplines with people who are
always willing to coach me on how to improve my
shooting skill. I was now attending the range
regular on a weekday night shooting rifles from
.22RF to 44mag lever action on the indoor range
and larger calibers on the 100m outdoor range at
weekends.
As my dad is involved with DSC level 1 courses
that are run at Paul Lane R&P Club I soon
became interested and completed the assessment in
February of 2008.i was still only 12 at this time and
on of the youngest people in the UK to pass. The
DSC level 1 courses is primarily safety and is very
instructive on firearms and the safe handling of, as
part of the assessment you have a shoot 3 shots
into a target of 4 inches at 100 meters with a deer
legal caliber that’s not too hard you might say but
try it when you have a group of strangers watching
and assessing you to make sure the you are safe
and competent.
As my competence with the rifles available to me
increased I started to compete with my dad and
against him in the various competitions and fun
shoots that he attends or arranges at both Paul
lane and the much larger 1000yard range at
Diggle the Pennine Shooting Sports Association.
The competitions at Paul Lane consist of a fun
shoot in March which coincides with the start of
the roe deer season so we shoot at a deer target
Target Shooter 85

The competitions at diggle are run by Ken Hall of
the QSA and are primarily black powder as you
will see in his articles and updates in the target
shooter magazine
These rifles have quite a kick and I found a full
competition of around 50 shots a bit much to
handle so just attended to offer supportive
criticism to my dad and uncle whilst only trying the
occasional shot to begin with. I now shoot all the
competitions my dad attends and even beat him
occasionally shooting his old rifle in 45/70 caliber
as he has now moved up to larger 45/90.
In march of 2009 a member of Paul Lane Club,
John Farrell who is very much into the 22br
arranged a small competition within the club open
to all club members this covered 25 and 50 meters
light and heavy varmint and 25m air rifle as my
dad was assisting as range crew I put my name
down to shoot in the 25m light and heavy varmint
shooting Johns light rifle for both comps and
taking junior silver in both.
After my success in the club competition I
started shooting bench rest on regular occasions
and joined the uk22br club. As my interest in
this discipline grew I started shooting the postal
competitions with either a club gun or one of johns
rifles.
At this time people at Paul lane started talking of
a bench rest competition that was to be held in
Bristol. After a great deal of organization by certain
members of Paul lane club and the support from
the committee A team consisting of ten shooting
members of which 3 where juniors attended the
UK bench rest nationals at Portishead Rifle Club
in Bristol over the August banc holiday weekend
in 2009.
At this competition I shot in the 25meter indoor
light and heavy varmint class taking a junior gold
and silver overall in the light varmint class
86 Target Shooter
On our return from the UK nationals
my dad started looking for a rifle
of my own and found me a old
Anshultz 54 target rifle that we had
rebarreled with a lilja barrel and
modified the stock to suite bench rest.
On my fourteenth birthday I applied for
my own firearms certificate this now
allows me to go the shooting club
and other competitions as long as I
am accompanied by an adult.
Outside of target shooting I enjoy
helping my dad running a small game
shoot some would say just for the
hot beef buttes he puts on afterwards, but really
its incase a gun drops out at the last minute and
I can stand in, if not its the beater line, picking up
and offering helping the guns on why they missed
that bird. Therese always something to do on a
shoot from repairing pens and fences to dealing
with any vermin problems at this time of year its
pigeons they just turn up when the corn is ready
great practices for the pheasant shoot and a cheap
tea for me.
On Saturday the 27th July I set off accompanied
by Mr. Carl Hanson on a 600mile trip to the
second European championship hosted in Pilsen
in the Czech Republic. During the championships
I shot air rifle and rimfire. I won four medals from
the air rifle events which were two bronze and two
silvers. After a days rest and the arrival of my dad
we started shooting the 22 rimfire at 25 and 50
meters in this I achieved six medals of which were
four silvers and two gold medals. I found the match
quite challenging and was caught out by the wind
as was many of the competitors. It was the best
organized events I have ever taken part in. The
championships were extremely enjoyable. But all
this wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for
Ladislav Niger the organizer of it all and who has
put a lot of effort and time into it to get it all right.
I am currently practicing for the UK nationals,
which this year are to be held at my club so no
travailing for once. It is to be held on the august
bank holiday weekend and I am looking forward to
meeting up with all the UK team that I shot with in
Czech so you will have to wait till next month for
the results.
 The Long View
News from the GB
F-Class Association
by Les Holgate

cally, those on the higher ground to the left generally

suggested a wind running right to left, while shooters
quickly discovered the actual direction needed a bit of
left windage on the ‘scope!

The field was split between the classes, the balance

of one falling onto the F-TR side. August is a bad time
for entries with people taking holidays, exacerbated by
it being the local peak tourist season with difficulties
in getting accommodation, worse the Atholl Arms
Hotel fully booked for a wedding. Several Open-class
regulars were absent including League leader Grant
Gen Tilt on Saturday – dark and threatening but a Taylor, May Blair round winner John Campbell, plus
good day as it turned out Gary Costello, Greg Thompson, Mark Daish and David
Kent to name half a dozen, but the F-TR field had
nearly all of the top dozen in the league standings
present apart from Ian Dixon who is recovering from
surgery. Given that fully half of the top 20 Open
shooters were missing, there was a good opportunity
for the others to earn a goodly number of League
points and improve their standings, especially northern
shooters such as the Brough brothers, Peter Hunt,
Gordon Waugh and Hugh Inglis who had missed the
Bisley round. Attention in F-TR focussed on League
leaders Russell Simmonds and Adam Bagnall
who came to Blair one point apart on 77 and 76
respectively.
With Russell having one win and three second places,
‘Open’ shooters get ready he needed another class win and its 20 points to
improve his standing, while Adam with two firsts and
The weekend of 7th-8th August saw Round 5 of the two thirds would gain from 2nd place – as long as
GB-FCA National Championship, the second visit to Blair Russell didn’t win – and would move into the lead with a
Atholl in Perthshire. Round 5? It seems only yesterday
that I was getting ready for Round 1 at Diggle, and Ramon Fito from Spain was the F-TR competitor to
there are only two more to go now. Yet again, and watch on day one, and finished 2nd overall in class
defying all historical precedents, the 29 entrants fell
lucky with the weather, a deep front that brought
heavy rain and poor visibility to northern Britain
moving away over Friday night to give a dry
weekend with clear visibility, even if Saturday started
cool with threatening clouds swirling low overhead.
Also uncharacteristically, the winds on the Glen Tilt
range were relatively light, mostly headwind with
a sideways component prevalently from the left,
changes difficult to spot on the flags and more so
to interpret. There’s no shortage of wind-flags, only
at any one time half or more mislead. Not untypi-

Target Shooter 87
 Peter Hunt looks serene on Sunday on his way to winning overall

ahead of four competitors on 99, Tony

Marsh leading Peter Wilson, Dan Brough,
Des Parr and Peter Hunt on V-count.

The weather slowly improved throughout

Matches 2 and 3 with thinning cloud
and it becoming warm, but the wind
strengthened and became trickier, also
acquiring a tendency to fishtail requiring
F-Class record breaker 1 – John Carmichael with 100.6v shooters to take left windage off quickly,
sometimes needing a little ‘right’ put on,
(Open) in Match 1
so scores dropped. Hugh Inglis took
win. (It’s the best four results of the season that count.) Match 2 from Peter Hunt on ‘V’s both on
99, ahead of Gordon Waugh and Des Parr sharing 98.6v.
With its electronic target marking, Blair provides a lot of In F-TR, Adam Bagnall recovered for first equal on 93.4v
shooting and this was a particularly good event with three but lost the match medal to Stuart Anselm on count-back,
20-round matches on the Saturday and two 15-rounders Ramon Fito one point adrift. While Open scores only fell
on the Sunday for a total possible score of 450-90v. marginally, F-TR was more affected, many getting their
As always organiser Des Parr and his helpers were on lowest scores of the day, but Match 3 reversed this with
the ball and had the range set up in good time, which Open shooters taking a tumble and F-TR recovering.
assisted by everyone arriving well before 08.00 saw the Adam Bagnall had another good result taking a class
allocated two-hour blow-off / sighting-in session only win with a superb 96.2v ahead of Paul Crosbie, Ramon
take half that time letting the first match start at 09.00, Fito, and Steve Donaldson on 94s. Irishman Joe Melia’s
the main group of F-TR shooters making up the first 98.4v won the match overall beating Scot Dan Brough
of three relays. While the winds were light they looked on ‘V’s, Dave O’ Hara taking third with 96.3v for an
‘tricky’, and some F-TR shooters converted relatively all-Celtic first three.
low scoring ‘sighters’ on the basis that a 4.5 or even
4-point shot-average is good by Blair standards, Steve Saturday ended with the ever reliable Peter Hunt just
Donaldson taking a ‘V’ and three for instance. leading Open on 292.6v, Hugh Inglis and Dan Brough a
However, we now saw some fantastic scores
with two new 1,000yd 20-round GB-FCA
League records set. The first was Altcar’s
101 Club’s John Cross with an astounding
96.3v in F-TR, just seeing off Spanish shooter
Ramon Fito by a ‘V’, with eight others breaking
90 led by Paul Crosbie on 95.6v followed by
Paul Harkins and Russell Simmonds on 94s.
Not everybody found the conditions easy,
one being Adam Bagnall on 87.3v who was
to rue this slow start. Conditions held up long
enough for the Open shooters to repeat the
F-Class record breaker 2 – John Cross with 96.2v (F-TR)
trick, John Carmichael taking the match overall
with 100.6v, another GB-FCA 1,000yd record
in Match 1

88 Target Shooter
 F-Class record breaker 3 – Stuart Anselm with
75.4v (F-TR) in Match 4, also 1st F-TR overall
plus 71 saw him pull ahead of Ramon Fito and
take first class place overall on 424.12v ahead
of the Spaniard’s 420.12v, there then being
a small gap to a group of five led by Steve
Donaldson.

So there we are, four new national records in

point behind, but only four points covered the first seven
places, so there was everything to play for on Sunday.
F-TR had 11 points cover the top seven with Ramon
Fito in the lead on 282.8v three ahead of Stuart Anselm
who had shot 93 in every match, Paul Crosbie in third.
Adam Bagnall was in fifth paying for his
87 in Match 1, while Russell Simmonds
was way down in 12th after ammunition
problems and an enforced rifle swap
during Match 3.
one meeting, and at Blair Atholl at that! How
about the championships? Round 5 didn’t
produce any changes at the top, but Dan
Brough’s 2nd place (19 points) puts him on
53 and just able to challenge Grant Taylor and
David Kent in the last two rounds, as he has
three results in compared to their full sets of
four. In F-TR, Russell Simmonds finished 11th
and Adam Bagnall 5th, neither result altering
their championship points’ totals. Stuart Anselm’s class
win and 20 points moves him up to third half a dozen
points behind Russell for an outsider’s punt at the
Championship, but needing first places in both

Sunday dawned brighter and became

warm, the wind having dropped off
and moved a bit further left. Match 1
started at 09.00 and it was again the
main group of F-TR shooters out first F-Class record breaker 4 – Daniel Brough with 75.10v (Open) in
in apparently windless conditions. Match 4
While the flags hung limp, there was
a little wind, again from the left, and it remaining rounds to match Russell’s 77 points. Round 6
strengthened slowly but continuously throughout the returns to Diggle on the weekend of 11-12th September
match despite absolutely no change showing on the for a quartet of 800 and 1,000yd matches – there’s still
flags. Doing well required good wind plotting and a strong time to enter, just! For further information on British
enough nerve to regularly add a left ‘click’ onto windage F-Class shooting, visit:
drum settings. Stuart Anselm took full advantage for a http://www.freewebs.com/fclassuk/
‘possible’ 75.4v ahead of Paul Harkins on 74.2v and Round 5 – Top 10 Scores
Laurie Holland on 73.1v (shooting the .223 Savage Open F-TR
featured elsewhere in this issue). Some struggled, F-TR 1 Peter Hunt 439.17v Stuart Anselm 424.12v
Championship contenders Adam Bagnall and Russell 2 Daniel Brough 438.24v Ramon Fito 420.12v
Simmonds on 67.1v and 63.1v respectively, Steve 3 Gordon Waugh 435.23v Steve Donaldson 416.15v
Donaldson on 66.2v. The wind flags were barely stirring 4 Hugh Inglis 435.21v Paul Crosbie 415.19v
when the ‘Open’ shooters started and Dan Brough 5 John Carmichael 434. 21v Adam Bagnall 415.14v
won this match with 75.10v. This and Stuart’s F-TR 6 Des Parr 433.24v Paul Harkins 415. 7v
‘possible’ are GB-FCA League records for 1,000yd 7 Tony Marsh 430.19v Laurie Holland 412.11v
15-round matches. Hugh Inglis also shot a ‘possible’ but 8 Dave O’Hara 427.14v Stephen Lynch 407.11v
with four ‘V’s and four others scored 74. It was down to 9 Joe Melia 425.19v Liam Fenlon 406.12v
Match 5 for the first half dozen Open and the top three 10 Peter Wilson 422.81v John Cross 406.6v
F-TR places. Peter Hunt took the former and the event
overall with another excellent score of 74.6v beating
off John Carmichael by three ‘V’s and Peter Wilson by
a point. With scores running so high in almost every
match, consistency was essential to do well in the overall
placings, and Peter provided just this with 99, 99, 94,
73, and 74, Dan Brough almost as good on 99, 94,
98, 75, and 72 to finish one point behind, then Gordon
Waugh and Hugh Inglis after a small gap. In F-TR, Steve
Donaldson recovered to get his first win of the weekend
with 73.4v, fellow 101 Club member Stephen Lynch and
Stuart Anselm the only others to break 70. Stuart’s 75
Target Shooter 89
 A regular column whereby Ken Hall keeps us up to date
with black powder cartridge rifle shooting in the UK.

THE ALL-NEW scores be discounted to make the contest more

QUIGLEY SHOOTING ASSOCIATION even. Sunday morning, after the customary social-
ANNUAL TEAM STEEL CHALLENGE. izing, it was off to the 400 yard firing point for stage
1 of the competition which consisted of two sighters
Sunday 18th July saw what should have been three and ten to count on a bullseye target, shot Target Ri-
teams of six firers each from the Quigley Shooting fle style with team members being permitted to spot
Association, the Single Shot Black Powder Car- for each other. Then came the challenging bit, ten
tridge Rifle Club of Great Britain and the Yorkshire shots each at a steel silhouette of Matthew Quigley’s
Buffalo Hunters compete in the annual Team Steel famous bucket, fabricated for the occasion by Rich-
Challenge competition. Sadly, one member of the ard Healey of the YBH. On the bullseye targets the
QSA team was unable to attend but, sportingly, the teams were very closely matched with QSA scoring
other teams suggested that their lowest individual 196.5 ex 250 and SSBPCRC scoring 222.13 ex 250
and the YBH scoring 198.8
Carl spotting for his team, and also saying a prayer perhaps ex 250. The top scorers
for each team being Colin
Buck on 47.3 for the SSB-
PCRC, Richard Healey on
44.3 for the YBH and Den-
nis Richardson on 44.1 for
the QSA. The steel bucket
was a bit of a challenge,
especially once a few
rounds had gone down-
range, as it blended in with
the dark sand background,
this accounted for many
misses from each team.
Highest scorers were
young Jake Healey for the
YBH and Colin Buck for
the SSBPCRC with 5 hits
each. Going in for lunch
the score stood at 190 for
SSBPCRCGB, with the
YBH and the QSA on 140.
Lunch provided the chance
for shooters to catch up
on the gossip and to ex-
change hints and tips on

90 Target Shooter
 Phil Morgan retains the trophy for another year

When all steel scores were tallied the SSBPCRC

had ‘rang the gong’ 62 times, the YBH 55 times and
the QSA 53 times.
All competitors received a commemorative medal,
as did the butt crew, who did a splendid job as usual.
The atmosphere throughout was one of great com-
radeship and firers are to be congratulated for the
truly sportsmanship way in which the competition
was run.

The bucket through the scope

reloading, case cleaning etc. as well as to

sow seeds of friendly rivalry. (What other
sport has opposing teams giving each other
tips and assistance?) Out now to 600 yds
and a reprise of the bullseye stage, but due
to time restrictions only two sighters and
five to count on the bullseye followed by ten
rounds each at a steel buffalo silhouette.
The Teams
The scores for the bullseye phase were as
follows; 88.3 for the SSBPCRCGB, 86 for
the QSA and 76.3 for the YBH. QUIGLEY SHOOTING ASSOCIATION
Now comes the steel challenge, two details with 1000YD BILLY DIXON SHOOT – 17th July 2010.
three firers from each team on the point, firing in
turn, the tension becomes almost unbearable and
the seconds between shot and strike seem to grow You wouldn’t believe it! Diggle in ‘summer’ seems
longer. The SSBPCRC hit the buffalo 43 times to the cursed with the most un-seasonal weather.
YBH’s 41 and the QSA’s 39 with only Dennis Rich- Saturday morning, July 17th and once more the eco
ardson of the QSA scoring all10 hits. system that is the Pennine weather, cursed us with
Target Shooter 91
 Eric Todd spots for Carl Hanson
Jake and Mark
The Billy Dixon target
92 Target Shooter
rain and diminished visibility. All this and the
exposed firing point at 1000yds made for a
challenging day.
Most people reading this will probably be
acquainted with Billy’s famous 1,538 yard
shot at the battle of Adobe walls in 1874,
which effectively ended Comanche chief
Quanah Parker’s attack on the 28 men and
one woman encamped in the little trading
post.
The Quigley Shooting association
runs an annual competition based on Billy’s
long shot using modern replica firearms
of the period, fitted with open iron sights
and fuelled only with black powder. The
competition consisted of two stages. Stage
1 being two sighters and ten shots to count
at a standard bullseye target to get the
range and sight setting. Stage 2 was ten
shots to count on a scaled down mounted
Indian figure target. The target is pictured
on a 6ft square frame, the actual figure as
you can see, is very much smaller than
lifesize.
Traditional crossed-stick rests were
permitted as the only aid, no optic sights
allowed. The winner is determined by the
number of hits on the Indian, followed by
hits on the horse, one point being awarded
for hits on the backing which miss the
silhouette.
With the infamous Diggle “breeze” making it difficult
to prevent scorecards and cleaning kit from taking
off up the valley, and the rain showers obscuring
the target some difficulty was expected, however
everyone managed to score hits on the frame. This
year, eight firers hit the mounted figure but only Mark
Silver, shooting his heavy barrelled Sharps .45/110
hit the figure more than once to win the comp. Using
hits on the horse and backer to determine 2nd and
3rd positions, young Jake Healey took second and
Phil Morgan was third.
The view from 1000yds
Gallery Rifle & Pistol News
Gallery Rifle Update
The Fermoy International Gallery Match was
held in Ireland 10th July 2010 and was the second
deployment of the year for the GB Gallery Rifle
Team. The rain that keeps the “Emerald Isle” green
was reportedly torrential, which did not enhance
scores but was at least equitable for both teams.
The standard 1500 course of fire was shot shoulder
to shoulder in both centre fire and small-bore classes,
contested with teams of five (best four scores to
count). Ireland showed the greater consistence and
was victorious by 27 points in the centre fire (5948
v 5921) and again in the small-bore by a narrower
margin of 23 points (5872 v 5849). Congratulations
to Ireland who go from strength to strength following
their Phoenix Cup win at Bisley in May.
Next outing for Team GB is in Germany in November.
The Fermoy International is an open event and is held
annually, there are special licensing requirements
for Ireland but they are not to onerous and many
shooters combine their entry with a holiday to Ireland
– very nice why not try it?
GB and Ireland Captains in Fermoy
The Imperial Meeting at Bisley may be the zenith
of the shooting season and it offered something
slightly different to gallery rifle shooters. Between
14th and 18th July nearly 100 competitors shot over
750 cards in GRCF, GRSB, LBR, muzzle loading and
air pistol events. GRCF events are mainly, but not
exclusively shot with iron sights, with any sights for
GRSB. There are seven cores events with unlimited
entries allowed and prizes being awarded for best
aggregates scores for single events and overall.
In addition squadded events were held over the
weekend of 17th/18th July and the Imperial also hosts
the University and School Matches encouraging
young shooters. Score have been posted on the
NRA website.
The Frome 3-gun again offers something different
to the GR enthusiast; in addition to centrefire and
smallbore stages (which can be shot with either rifle
or LBR/LBP) there is a shotgun stage. Each discipline
has five stages and there are prizes for stage
winners and an overall aggregate winner. This years
event, 24th/25th July, saw 55 competitors shooting
149 stages at the Shield Shooting Centre in Dorset,
full results of the Frome Website www.fdpc.org.uk
At the Stourport Open Meeting, 7th/8th August, 139
Target Shooter 93
Mil Dot reticle with illuminated centre cross Squad shooters use and the modifications they
hair have made to them, as standard class centre fire
match cards were submitted in 13 events. One
interesting difference at Stourport is the Match Five
1500 Pairs for teams of two. The team members
shoot a 1500 Match 5 (60 shots) with one competitor
each shooting in GRSB and GRCF, combined total
score to count.
Perhaps the NRA gallery rifle sub-committee may
wish to consider the inclusion of mixed team events
at the Action Weekends?
The National Gallery Rifle Championships at
Bisley are imminent, 28th/29th August but there
may still be time to turn up and shoot on the day
– subject to available range space. The National
Championships also host the Home International
Matches on Saturday 28th August on Melville Range
– try and get along and support your country if you
can.
Moving on to forthcoming events, on 19 th
September Mattersey host a Bianchi Cup Match
plus Shorts. In addition to the usual four Bianchi
Stages Mattersey uniquely host a six stage, near
300 rounds, course of fire by including the Rapid-fire
and Los Alamitos Stages – plenty of scope for errors
with fun for all and the eventual victor rightly able to
claim to be the best rapid fire shot. As usual entry
forms are available on www.galleryrifle.com.
More gallery rifle shooting at the Trafalgar Meeting
(23rd/24th October) and at the Autumn Action
Weekend (30th/31st October) – details of these events
next time. Good shooting!
Scopes used by the GB Gallery Rifle Squad
Last time we looked at the rifles GB Gallery Rifle
94 Target Shooter
gallery rifle (GRCF) is almost universally shot with
telescopic sights it is time to make an analysis of the
scopes the top shooters use.
My own rule is that the glass on the gun should never
exceed half the price of the rifle. Some may choose
to differ with me on this and I do concede that for
very specialist events, like “F” class there may be
a case for apparently extreme extensions my rule.
In GR the smallest size target has a 1” centre and
is never more than 50 metres away, except for the
annual 100/200/300 metre shoot at the Phoenix, so
the half price rule should be fit for purpose. With a
fully tweaked Marlin rifle costing between £850 and
£1,000 we should be looking to spend no more than
£400-500 and for a change there is good news -
nothing in the review exceeds this limit!
So what features do we need on a GRCF scope?
The first essential is the ability to focus at relatively
high magnification at close range, to facilitate the
10 and 15 metre stages. In addition to the main
focusing ring on a scope nearly all GR scopes have
a fine focus facility, either on the objective lens
(that’s the one at the front) or a side focus wheel
on the left hand side of the scope tube opposite
the windage adjustment knob. Theses “adjustable
objective” (AO) focus facilities are graduated for
different distances, so that once set it is easy to alter
to the stage requirements. Be warned the distance
graduations do not always exactly match the real
distance, maybe because of aging eyes (in my case
anyway!). My solution is marking the distances off
with old fashioned typewriter correct fluid, if you can
still get it.
The second requirement is to determine the
magnification requirements, all the shooters in
the survey use different magnifications at different
distances, so variable power scope options only will
be considered. It might be interesting if we had a
fixed power challenge to see what magnification
shooters would select but this is entirely academic
in terms of this article. The basic rule is the further
away the greater the magnification, but there are
limits.
The main consideration is the “wobble factor”, which
some people can control better than others. There
is an obvious need to hold the gun steady when
releasing the shot and it becomes increasingly
difficult to hold the gun still as magnification
increases. At high magnification this can causes the
shooter to hold off pulling the trigger whilst striving for
the perfect, but transitory, sight picture. The anxiety
associated with delay on the timed stages can have
the effect of adopting a “that will do” mentality and
loosing off the shot recklessly, with consequent
inaccuracy, far better perhaps to settle for a lower
power that permits a steady aim.
There are therefore parallel strategies with regards
to magnification, you are either a high magnification
and presumably lots of practice makes perfect type
of person, or a low magnification person which
requires precise aim at an apparently smaller aiming
point. Of the GB squad about 80% prefer to go
large, I have tabulated the high, average and low
magnification values for the stage distance for the
1500 match at fig 1, my only comment is that there
are some very consistent shooters in both high and
low camps so my advice to you is to try it for yourself
and see which is best for you.
Fig1 – Shows magnification used at different distances
I am at the low end of the magnification debate and
my main reason for it is that greater magnification
The MTC Optics Taipan scope and you can
just see the side focus wheel
Marlin Competition Special
brings the disadvantage of narrowing the field of
view, to the point where you only see the target
centre and at this point there is an increasing danger
of cross shooting on other peoples targets. If you find
you have the inherent ability to hold your aim at high
magnification then by all means use it but beware!
A few shooters have adopted a complex but logical
approach on the multi-position stages of using higher
magnification when kneeling and sitting, which
should be more stable, and reducing magnification
when standing. I have tried this myself and if you like
routine and don’t get flustered then this may be worth
a try. Typically magnifications used at 50 metres is;
between 12-16x kneeling/sitting and 12-25x standing.
Another consideration when choosing a scope is eye
relief, or the distance that your eyeball needs to be
from the rear lens element to provide the optimum
view through the scope. This is important because
when you bring the rifle up your head and eye needs
to naturally return to the same position every time to
give this optimum view. Typically eye relief is about
Target Shooter 95
3” to 4” but some scopes seem to be more forgiving
on eye relief than others and a tolerant scope can
help if head/eye alignment is slightly off. This effect
can be most helpful with left shoulder/eye shooting
where similar head/eye position may be achievable
but the optical qualities of the eyes are dissimilar.
Annoyingly the eye relief on some scopes alters
quiet profoundly at different magnifications, so watch
out for this.
Sight picture may be a matter of individual preference
but the choice is vast; fine cross hair target reticles
(sometimes called reticules) duplex types with broad
cross hairs narrowing near the centre, mil-dots with
graduations dotted at regular intervals on the vertical
and horizontal axis and complex reticles showing
information such as bullet drop and all this before
you include illuminated reticles (IR). I prefer an
uncluttered sight picture and the finer the cross hairs
the better for shooters who use low magnification at
the longer distances but otherwise you pays your
money and you takes your choice.
When it comes to illuminated elements I am a bit of a
minimalist as in low light they glow without enhancing
the target resolution. I suppose it’s a matter of
contrast and I do have a scope with a small central
dot at the point where the cross hairs bisect; the red
dot does show up quite nicely against all black 1500
target face. I feel it likely that so many scopes come
with this feature as standard that people have them
but never switch them on.
I have heard shooters say that large objective lenses
help with light gathering but I think it worth pointing
out that the higher you mount your scope the more
96 Target Shooter
pronounced the effect of parallax and the greater the
effect this will have on your fall of shot, especially at
closer ranges. Presumably light gathering, or more
correctly light transmission, can be an important
feature with hunting at dawn and dusk but most
GR is done during the hours of daylight and without
discounting this factor altogether I would not rule out
a scope just because it didn’t have a great big bucket
of a front end.
More important is the quality of the optics with
cheap scopes gaining a reputation for being poor
light transmitters and therefore a bit gloomy. Since
the Far East became involved in widespread
manufacturing the quality of the optics on budget
scopes has improved radically and as you will see
from the range of scopes being used by GB squad
shooters (fig 2) more than acceptable results can be
achieved at quite modest expense.
Before I finish I want to look at the no scope option!
What I hear you say, yes there are some who
choose, or perhaps have the skill, to compete with
a magnification of only one. Currently only one of
the GB squad goes down this route but with the
introduction this year of the CRCF “classic” class this
style of shooting may find a renaissance. I do not
intend to dwell here on the matter but will return at a
later date to the options for shooting “classic” class.
Next time I will look at what to feed your GR and we
will look at some of the pet loads of the GB squad.
 Close Supervision by instructor on firing line
UKPSA Practical Pistol Basic Safety Course
I have shot Practical Shotgun for approximately
over two years now and thoroughly enjoy
shooting the UK National Circuit and the northern
club competitions. I have also been fortunate to
shoot practical shotgun at IPSC Level 3 National
Competitions in other European countries.
It’s been whilst at these competitions an “après
shoot” of full bore pistols has sometimes been
made available to us blighted Brits. Now I’m
never one to turn down the opportunity to fire a
gun, so when a kindly German says to me, would
you like to shoot the Desert Eagle? I say YES!
So it’s with this in mind I have been looking at
ways to take my pistol shooting to the next level.
Now this is easier said than done here on the
mainland UK, where pistols are deemed Section
5 and are illegal to possess for the common man.
There are many other fulfilling ways to shoot
pistols, CO2 steel challenge, air soft and
even the Long Barrel Revolver (LBR) or Long
Barrelled Pistol (LBP), but none of these
have really been as good as those European
experiences. So when an opportunity came up
to take part in a UKPSA practical pistol safety
course in Northern Ireland I immediately signed
up to take part. Here’s what happened:-
The course was based at a friendly club located
in County Tyrone, organised by the very
experienced David Thompson, UKPSA Practical
Pistol Instructor and International IPSC pistol
competitor. The course ran over a Saturday and
Sunday consisting of 14 hours plus of training.
We started off with an introduction to IPSC
shooting, safety rules, competition divisions,
equipment that is used and IPSC rules and
regulations.
In IPSC pistol the gun is worn unloaded in a
holster whilst both shooting and also when not
shooting. Different from practical shotgun as in
this sport shotguns are held in a slip on a gun
rack, when not in use. So we went through the
safe method of unpacking the pistols in the safety
zone, making safe and holstering the guns. The
Target Shooter 97
 Competition Set up by STI 2011 in .40 S&W
training followed a set pattern and slowly built up
in complexity, the instructor not moving on until
he was entirely satisfied that we had mastered
the drill in hand.
Prone Shooting is Common in IPSC competition
98 Target Shooter
We started at the simple end with loading the gun
and making ready, unloading and showing clear.
We quickly moved on to stance, grip, draw,
sighting, consistency of grip, trigger squeeze
and the sight picture required for both short and
long range targets. We worked through dominant
hand only, support hand only, kneeling, prone and
reloading and various start positions. All these
drills were carried out with a view to safety, speed
and consistency.
The final day was made up of training in the
morning covering stoppage drills, turning and
moving. Followed by the all important testing
phase that involved shooting stages set up
to mirror what you would face in an actual
competition, utilising all of the skills we had
developed over the past two days. Everyone
thoroughly enjoyed the course and all considered
it was well worth attending. All of us passed with
a certificate, those who were already members of
the UKPSA gained a competition licence and the
locally based students who weren’t, joined that
day to take their shooting further.
If you are interested in taking part in a UKPSA
practical pistol safety course in Northern Ireland
you must have the following :-
A Great Britain firearm certificate, be a member
of a Great Britain Home Office approved club
and be a member of the UKPSA. When a course
is being run information will be placed on the
UKPSA Forum. For more details on IPSC
competition shooting you can also look at David’s
Weak Hand Drill
web site www.practicalhandgun.com and also
www.discovernorthernireland.com
Interested parties can of course take part in the
UKPSA practical pistol safety courses here in
the UK. Two day courses are run periodically
at appropriate ranges with either CO2 pistols or
an LBR/LBP. Best completed with an LBR/LBP
- but due to a quirk in our firearms regulations,
you may not borrow one – you have to have
appropriate conditions on your FAC for the gun
you intend to use. This does mean you either
have to buy one, or share one with someone and
both have the gun entered on your FAC.
If you choose to do the course with a CO2, you
can complete the course but not finalise it until
you can demonstrate safe use with a real pistol
(handle the recoil etc).
The competition licence pass means you
may take part in any IPSC sanctioned match
anywhere in the world. Those interested should
contact the UKPSA for further details : www.uk-
psa.co.uk
Report and Pictures by Iain Corrigan
Target Shooter 99
Next time in.....

The October issue will be out on the normal date of the 1st. Lots of follow up articles, new
reviews, news and as ever packed with the articles you want to read.
All the latest information at your fingertips

October 2010 Issue

On Test Reviews
Regular
Columns

Features ...and lots more

100 See you next month.......................................
Target Shooter