I participated in two classes, standard pre1960 military rifles and Service Match rifle.

I used the Resistance No4 Mk1 in the standard class and the No1 MkIII* in the Match class, using a PH 5a dioptre.

Not having shot at 200m since last summer, and using a new powder as well. I was just out to try and set up the rifles for the main competition that is next month.

I obviously don't shoot enough, but I was reasonably happy with the results. It was quite cold today; just 1°C when I left home and around 4° when we shot.

I shot 60-63-74 with the No 4, 

The No1 shot 66-77-68. I messed up a few on the last series.

Obviously not anywhere near a winning score, but great fun to get out and have some practice!

I’m not very familiar with the rifle classes you shoot. Presumably the “Service Match” rifle is a WWI or II service rifle with fully adjustable  “match” type rear sights, as in UK NRA SR(b) rules?  I wish we had such a class here, such a rifle would be put into the F-Class category. 

Standard bolt action.

Modified ( dioptre) and Sniper version with original type scope.

Semi auto large calibre and semi auto small calibre.

These are at 200 metres. The 10 is 8cm diameter 

Then we have Military Training rifles at 50 metres.

The ISR competition has three classes : 

pre 1960, 

post 1960 military rifles,

Military Match rifle. L39 etc and others with dioptre.

The 10 is 6 cm diameter.

I actually got 3rd place with the No4Mk1 in the pre 1960 class! 

Pleased with that, as I went there for a bit of practice before next months TAR competition at the same range.  I learned a few things, my new safety glasses are not great for rifle shooting prone. Variable focal length lense meant having to move my head more to get a good sight image.

I should have brought my old pair!

Also didn't use the sling because of the extra clothing for cold weather.

Obviously some people had a really bad day, scores were generally low.

I placed 7th  in the Match class. Using the 1929 BSA No1MkIII*.

Shot with standard sling. Most of the competitors I shot against in this class were using special jackets and sling's. But the rifle performed well, the errors being all my own! However it's shown me what I need to concentrate on.

If your like the rest of us, we need correction to focus at the distance to the foresight. I had the optometrist write a prescription for the right lens of my shooting glasses made for that purpose, but with a close up reader at the bottom of the lens. 

Through some trial and error, I eventually went with a slightly longer focus distance, 54 inches, so that the target wasn’t quite so blurry.

Which is probably why I stuck one shot off the target in my first series. 

However I had found a better but not comfortable position and by the third series with the No 4, I managed to improve. 

Also I was wondering if your theory of fouling a pitted barrel may have worked here too. This is the rifle that I used electrolysis to clean it up. 

It's hardly been used since and not at all for around 70 years since the war. When it was in hiding with a local Resistance family.

I gave it a gentle clean, ready for the TAR competition in March.

For those of us that are not able to do the focusing gymnastics from target to foresight and back to target (because of effects of aging), we don't have much choice but to use glasses that permit us to focus on the foresight at the expense of seeing the target clearly.  As long as you can read the target number board (to know which target to aim at) set the prescription strength to be close to the distance between eye and foresight (30").  I had the optometrist then reduce the strength by 0.25 diopters which moved the focus distance to 54" and this was a good compromise. 

I think reducing the orifice size is allowed in the ISR, but probably not in the TAR. I need to check the rules for this year, as there have been some modifications recently.