Long range competition shooting - Which format?

[IainWR]

Target Rifle is by far the largest of the competitive fullbore disciplines, with approaching 1000 competitors at the NRA meeting (approaching 2000 if you count the cadet Target Rifle events) and is the one in which Her Majesty the Queen's Prize (final stage contested at 900 and 1000 yards) is shot annually at Bisley. The GB Target Rifle Team have won the Palma Trophy for the World Long-Range Championship (teams of 16, 15 shots to count at 800, 900 and 1000 yards on each of 2 days) for 5 of the last 6 competitions, and the last two individual World Champions have been from GB. There are individual and team competitions at every level from club through county and Home International to GB touring teams, Commonwealth Games and World Championship matches. If you can routinely shoot 98s small-bore, you should be well set to learn the intricacies of reading the wind at long range and compete at high level in TR.

For completeness, don't forget Match Rifle, where competition is with a scope and a rest, but rather stricter limitations than in F-class, and where competition starts at 1000 yards and goes back to 1200.

[RobB]

Thanks Iain and Rox. Seems I may need to try a few options. I might ask the OSM club if they have suitable club rifles to try out although will probably have to wait until after my probation course on 20th Jan (not too long).
It does look like GB has a strong full bore TR history :)

[hitchphil]

All long range shooting is basically down to how well you read & predict the wind. A scope on the rifle wont help that much vs ability to read what is going on down range. What will is shooting TR that is almost the same as NSRA TR but rested between shots, plotting fall of shot & reading the wind for each. You will have to break a cycle of thinking by training from string shooting (shot was, next shot needs to be there- correcting from last shot) to predicting the next shot using wind & known settings (from a known zero - wind is setting needs to be, shot will go there).

You also need to get your position lower & eliminate any cant! You need to understand your sights so 4 'clicks' is a minute of arc (1"at 100yds) & you need to reverse your twiddling = Clockwise is now up & Right. Do some of that with a 95x100yd average you will be more than competitive & if competing is your thing then TR is the platform to light that up. Your mat, scope, jacket, glove, sling etc will do both jobs but beware of canvas in the rain its like being constricted!

TR is bigger than all else in terms of participation & shoots. There are a lot of clubs & you don't need to live near them to be a member. Costs are about 15quid a half day range fee & 75p/bang & we shoot a set of series:

Queens 1 = 2 sighters & 7 to count at 300, 500 & 600 yds.
Queens 2 = 2 Sighters & 10 to count at 300, 500 & 600 yds.
Queens 3 (Final) = 2 Sighters & 15 shots to count at 900 & 1000yds.

Matches come in sequences so an Empire is 2 & 10 at 300, 600, 900 & 1000 so 50rnds.
A palma 2 & 15 at 800, 900 & 1000 so 45 rnds + 6 sighters.
Matches can be 300 & 600 or 300. 600 900 or other combos.

Ammo ranges from 50p bang milsurp good to learn to 600yds to purpose made 75 to 1 pound a pop. Reloading your own costs about 45p & the quality of the ammo is much better.

Don't go mad spending on new gun, plenty come up for sale & good rifle that can take you to a final can cost between 500 & 4000. the P14 I trained my kids on cost 35quid sights inc & its shoots 1moa to 900yds. Join a club try as many as you can & then decide. Many members clubs have something to sell. Put 2 on your FAC application (308win/7.62x51). Barrel condition is king, then trigger, then sights, I actually shot better with a simple wooden stock vs a metal one, but do pref the metal stock for feel & confidence & in the rain where I shoot best? duh?

Lots of TR 22 shooters become good full-bore shooters & as somebody said - its addictive! & you can always put a scope on & shoot match rifle to 1200 later.

Once you do an Imperial you will attend the next NSRA meeting & know its just not the same atmos or fun..........

PM me if you want some club info.

[RobB]

Well Matt was right. Lots of very useful info. Good to hear my smallbore skills might make me competitive.
I like to shoot competitively as it makes pulling that trigger and throwing money into a big sand bank 1000yrds away a little more satisfying although I am lousy at side to side competitions compared to postal. I put that down to only taking up shooting just over 2 years ago.

[RobB]

Hitchphil- I joined the "Old Sergeants Mess" over the weekend at Bisley.
Thanks for your offer for club details though :)

[RobB]

"need to reverse your twiddling = Clockwise is now up & Right" - I'd heard rumours this was the case. This could get confusing at times!

"Put 2 on your FAC application (308win/7.62x51)" - thanks for that. Looks like the same slot on the FAC can cover F-TR as well as pure target rifle.
Am about to ask for a variation. Hopefully it won't take too long given this time last year it took about 3-4 weeks from application to FAC arriving. Quite respectable I think.