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The Kings Prize at Bisley 2025

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Strangely Brown View Drop Down
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    Posted: July 27 2025 at 3:58am
I'm sure you will all be pleased to know that Brandon Green (US) won the coveted Sovereign's Prize this year in what was a nail biting finish.
I was sat behind a friends stepson who eventually came 31st, unbeknown to me the chap three targets up who appeared to have tight group on the score marker for the public to see was the eventual winner and was chaired off the range. 

A quick intro into the Kings Prize; it is shot in three stages.

Stage 1 is 2 sighters and 7 to count at 300, 500 & 600 yards. There were 800 competitors and only the first 150 get through to stage 2.

Stage 2 is the same as stage 1 but you have 10 shots to count and only the first 100 get through to shoot in the final.

Stage 3 (The final) 2 sighters and 15 to count at 900 yards followed by the same at 1000 yards.





And some random images from the day:

The army clubhouse on the right, the winner usually gets a rousing cheer as he or she passes, those who didn't make the final are often "well watered" on the verandah at his stage!



Her mother helped her mark "daddy's" score.



The Kenyan's are a strong presence here every year.
 


One of the "serving" entrants, the army club had 4 members in the final this year.
 



I was sat somewhere behind the golf buggies wondering when to leave to beat the traffic. 



Angus and his tube gun, I think I counted two being used in the final this year. 




Taken during the late night celebrations in the Canadian Pavilion, the winner is chaired round the camp and the last visit of the night is the Canadian pavilion to fire the cannon. 



















































































































Mick
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sapper740 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 27 2025 at 4:03am
Thanks for posting this SB.  It's apparent that a lot of time and money was spent to get into the upper echelons of the competition.  Ah, if I was young again and could dream of competing at that level!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 27 2025 at 4:49am
Needless to say, SFC Brandon Green is a very skilled shot and has set numerous US National Records, including a “perfect” score of 400-20x in the Presidents 100 Service Rifle match. 

It’s tough to hang with the guys and gals of the US Army and USMC Marksmanship Units.  They are in a league of their own.  I’ve shot with Brandon a few times and wondered how he does it.  

Thanks for the pictures Mick. I see a number of Creedmoor shooting coats.  The rifles appear to be “Match Rifles” from what I can see. 


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Strangely Brown Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 27 2025 at 5:28am
Originally posted by britrifles britrifles wrote:

Thanks for the pictures Mick. I see a number of Creedmoor shooting coats.  The rifles appear to be “Match Rifles” from what I can see.

Geoff the Creedmoor jackets; or more particularly the type that tighten up when you pull the straps were at one time banned by the NRA (UK) overhear. 
My guess is that the weight of overseas competitors who shoot around the world made the ruling look a bit silly, and think of the politics if you banned a complete team for wearing the "wrong" jackets!
I'm not sure when the rule changed but I'm glad it did.

The term, "Match Rifle", has a completely different connotation in Commonwealth shooting, or more particularly between Australia & the UK and to a lesser extant Canada?

The discipline allows the competitor to shoot prone supported or supine, the use of scopes (no maximum power) and Galilean sights are also allowed.
Once described as the creme da la creme of shooting it was traditionally patronised by the aristocracy and senior members of the armed services, during the inter war years it was also used to gauge experiments of the .303 MkVII round using different propellant's.

These were taken in the week before the target rifle events, all images courtesy of Paul Deach who is the NRA media photographer.

 



 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote paddyofurniture Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 27 2025 at 6:44am
This is so very great!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Strangely Brown Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 27 2025 at 1:26pm
If any of you do Facebook I've just found an interesting clip of the evenings proceedings. 

I hope the link works?? 
Mick
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 27 2025 at 3:41pm
The link  works fine, takes you to the top of the page.
You'll need a F/B logon & password to open it.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 27 2025 at 5:16pm
thats pretty cool , 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sapper740 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 28 2025 at 5:00am
I love how no matter the event, be it the Royal Ascot, Wimbledon, or Bisley the Brits are impeccably dressed.  I wish that was one tradition we kept.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 28 2025 at 5:01am
Mick, I see a short bipod on Brandon's rifle and also on a young lady's rifle in the photos.  Looks too short to use when firing, is it used just to hold the rifle off the ground when not held for shooting prone?

This match has come a long way from the days when it was shot with the Service Rifle.  


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sapper740 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 28 2025 at 5:07am
Is SFC Green from Texas?  In the last picture he is making the "Hook 'em 'Horns" hand gesture.  All Texans instantly recognize that gesture as it is common for University of Texas alumni to show their support of their university's football team, the Texas Longhorns with that gesture.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Strangely Brown Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 28 2025 at 5:10am
Originally posted by britrifles britrifles wrote:

Mick, I see a short bipod on Brandon's rifle and also on a young lady's rifle in the photos.  Looks too short to use when firing, is it used just to hold the rifle off the ground when not held for shooting prone?

Geoff, yes exactly that. 
You can also find hand stops from the 1970's that have a bent wire rest incorporated into them, pretty sure I still have one somewhere.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 28 2025 at 5:23am
Somewhere in my Dad's shooting gear I have a few cast alloy rests, they have a short "spike" at the bottom that is pushed into the ground and a wide flange to keep them from sinking further in; and  "U" shaped saddle at the top for resting the rifle in the upright position.  Might have been made by Parker Hale.  Idea is not to rest the rifle on it's side, one side exposed to cool damp ground and the other to the hot sun; will move the bullet POI lateral as the forend warps. 

They don't work too well on the concrete firing point we have at Talladega!


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Strangely Brown Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 28 2025 at 5:34am
Originally posted by britrifles britrifles wrote:

Somewhere in my Dad's shooting gear I have a few cast alloy rests, they have a short "spike" at the bottom that is pushed into the ground and a wide flange to keep them from sinking further in; and  "U" shaped saddle at the top for resting the rifle in the upright position.  Might have been made by Parker Hale.  Idea is not to rest the rifle on it's side, one side exposed to cool damp ground and the other to the hot sun; will move the bullet POI lateral as the forend warps. 

They don't work too well on the concrete firing point we have at Talladega!



I still use one!
Parker Hale made them in two sizes; you could also choose whether you wanted one with the fork covered in "celluloid" so it didn't scratch the wood. 

The early Mk V plastic oil bottles are also described in the nomenclature of the day as being made of celluloid. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Strangely Brown Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 28 2025 at 6:20am
I cannot think of a better souvenir to nick than the lane marker you won the last stage of the Kings on. 
I believe this is about 5.30am the next morning. 

 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 28 2025 at 6:23am
Great photo! 

Mick, is this the first time a US citizen has won the Sovereign's Prize?  I can see the eyebrows being raised by the "old guard" at Bisley. 




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