I tried Timed and Precision 1 and Advancing Target in .22 for the first time as a warm up - I found the smaller targets quite tricky (compared to center fire), and on T&P1 dropped a lot more points than I do with CF - It didn't help that I forgot to aim off at 15m (the 2 second exposures weren't enough for me to see what was happening), and ended up with 9 of my shots grouped nicely in the 9 ring just below the bull
......The Advancing target went OK - That's a lot of fun in .22, and I put in a respectable score for my first attempt.
Then on to the 1500 - I was detailed between two experienced shots, who were very helpful and friendly, which really helped - The first detail went better than expected, and it turned out that 20 seconds is well enough for 12 shots, even when you're fishing mags out of a make-shift pouch...I remembered to aim high, and only dropped 6 points in the first 2 details at 10 and 15m...
...Then back to 25m - I didn't shoot off-hand too badly, but couldn't hold the rifle steady kneeling, and shot the whole detail far too fast; dropping a few out into the 8...the guy next to me showed me a better kneeling position (basically not putting the tip of your elbow on your knee and holding tighter), which was much better in the next detail..
..Then out to 50m - The target looks very small, but the kneeling, sitting and off-hand wasn't a disaster and I managed to make all shots scoring (out of the 7 is a miss), which I was well pleased with...but again, shot too fast and dropped too many unnecessary points...will get a large timer like the other competitors were using...
...The comp continued to go better than I'd expected, and I still hadn't had a miss until we went back to 50m for the second time - I though it had gone really well (didn't see anything go out of the 8)...but when we went to score, it turned out that I'd put 6 of the 50m shots on the next-door target (
) - the guy who's target I'd shot on was really nice about it, and I just had to take the instant 60 point drop on the chin......In the end I scored 1361, which is pretty bad - If I'd kept on my own target it would of been around 1410, which is still not very good - Until you shoot it, it's hard to appreciate the 'X class' scores...out of 150 shots they only drop 10 to 20 points, and 8s and 7s are a disaster for them - That said, I know I can do a lot better and might be able to trouble 'A class' in a year or two...which is now my realistic goal
I have to say as well, that the range officers were great as usual - The RCO I've met before and he was really helpful in answering all my dumb questions, and as it was my first go at the comp I had an RO keeping an eye on me - I made one one error, where I didn't lock the action open once while moving from kneeling to sitting - I noticed myself and locked it open as soon as I was down...the RO let me continue and didn't mention it until the detail was finished; which was good RO'ing...
...So I would say to anyone who isn't sure about competing in a main meeting, to just give it a go...the ROs and other competitors are always helpful and friendly - I would say though that the 1500 may not be the best comp to try first...Timed and precition 1 and 2 (which includes some kneeling and off-hand) or Multi-target would be a good place to start, just to get used to how comps are run and to build confidence.
Roll on the Phoenix! tongueout
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