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Our club had it's annual long range competition on Sunday at Stickledown, which for most of us is our one and only long range shoot each year...and I'm sad to say it was spoiled by extraordinarily bad butt marking.

We always shoot at 900 in the morning to make sure everyone is at least 'in the black' before moving back to 1000 in the afternoon - But the marking was so slow it was ridiculous, and the marker himself said he wasn't marking the high shots, as he couldn't reach them - this was making it difficult for some members to get on target as any high shots were just being put up as a miss! - It's also no exaggeration that we had to give about 10 message fours just in the morning...and the more we complained the worse the marking got...towards the end of the morning it was looking like we weren't going to get through all our shooters, so I asked the guy on the radio (we thought that we were speaking to a supervisor, as when we asked if we could speak to our marker directly, we were told "no" - but then found out in the range office that we were actually speaking to our marker!) if he could 'sort it out' ...the next 3 shots were marked: a 1, on the far left, a bull, and a 1, on the far right (for a shooter rarely out of the 4 even in a tricky wind)...very odd?

The afternoon wasn't much better, and again we had to constantly give message 4 - it was odd, but it seemed like every time we gave a message 4, it came back up with an odd shot fall...so when we had finished (and I know this isn't really fair) we waited a while, and then sent one last message 4...it came back up marked, and scored as a 4...which was really odd, as no one had shot on the the target....

We made a complaint at the range office, and to be fair they took it very seriously - they did also point out that if we'd complained at lunch time they could have change the marker (so that was our fault, although we thought we were speaking to a supervisor in the morning on the radio) - what really worried me though, was that the reason (the range office were quite honest about it) given, was that the NRA have recently changed the way markers are paid (not cash in hand any more...)...and this has resulted in the loss of a lot of good markers

Anyway, as I shoot with a good crowd, the day wasn't a total loss - however it has to be said, that while I can handle the ablutions, the road to short siberia, and I actually quite like Jennies cheeseburgers.....it's not going to be worth me driving up from Dorset and spending £70 to shoot for a day...if I can't actually tell where my shots are going!

Good company yes , but at the end of the day it was wasted by someone not doing their JOB correctly , you should at least get a refund .

Dave

Dave 101 wrote:Good company yes , but at the end of the day it was wasted by someone not doing their JOB correctly , you should at least get a refund .

Dave

Like I say, the range office were very fair - I felt a bit sorry for them actually, as I know we weren't the only people complaining...when I left our club sec was 'negotiating' the refund...

This is something the NRA should take seriously, as it's fundamental to a days shooting, - I know there are funding problems, but the markers need to be paid properly, the targets need to be maintained to a standard that they can be operated by those they employ...and why not supply some safe steps, so that high shots can be marked?

sadly I have also experienced it. It makes shooting impossible especially on a day with high winds and uncertain ammo performance.

I am down this weekend; if I get it again the range office will metaphorically speaking get both barrels!

We also had the same sort of experience on Stickledown about a month ago - about £100 down the pan and a day wasted, however, we had a young lady marking for us on Siberia at 200yds last Saturday who was excellent.

Had similar on my club's last full Bisley day. After spending vast quantities of time on the radio to the marker and getting no results out of him, we abandoned our 1000yds shoot after questioning everything from shooters to ammo to rifles. The answer came when somebody observed our target moving up and down and shots being signalled when nobody had fired (or cross-fired!). So our club sec nipped into the range office at lunch, explained the situation and was assured that the marker was being taken off duty.

Imagine my surprise, when we sallied forth at 600yds, to hear a depressingly familiar voice over the radio.

The problem with long range shooting at Bisley is that it isn't practical to send a club member to be locked into Stickledown butts for half a day at a time.

We've had very good markers and very average markers.

I wondered whether groups could be given a score sheet when they book in for a range. This could be a simple table whereby the target numbers were across the top and then clubs write in how many Message 4's etc were called for each target. If this were managed a proper picture of the capabilities of the markers could be formed; good ones might get a bonus at the end of the year; really bad ones might not be allowed to mark.

I realise that there are issues about finding markers etc. but its got to be worth a look.

i find it's best to wack them through v bull every time that way the marker doesn't have to stretch :55:


seriously though is does bring into question how they score some of the big comps and are the results truly valid?

BAD MARKING is unacceptable

You pay a fair fee for the service - and they must provide it or allow more alternatives.
You have every right to jump up and down and call range office and raise mayhem.

It is the ONE area that cannot be allowed to slip since it destroys the raison d’être for Bisley.
There is NO point going to Bisley to shoot at 1000 yards if you cant get accurate and prompt marking!

If they cant get decent markers - well then get off your arses and get decent electronic systems installed and operational!

tackb wrote:seriously though is does bring into question how they score some of the big comps and are the results truly valid?

I have shot two competitions at Bisley where the marking was suspect. One was a McQueen and the other the Phoenix F open earlier this year.

The McQueen the I had only shot seven when the RCO told me it was over, I challenged it and he told me I was too slow, all well and good until the score came back for nine shots.

The Phoenix somebody shot across the lanes, in fact they shot across three lanes to put a low left shot in my target which the F/TR shooter I was with actually called and said was wrong before I had a chance too. The missed shot was recognised on the shooter to the left of me but my true shot could not be found... all very odd however it was an S Class test for me and I knew I was probably outside the top 20 so I was not overly fussed, the Dutch shooter with me was not impressed though and kept shaking his head...