This is actually shot at 200 metres instead of the usual 300m. Which is actually a good thing for us, because our other Service Rifle competition is held on the same range, two weeks later.

So my wife and I will use this event for practice and checking the set up of the rifles.

I will be competing in the Standard bolt action and the Modified bolt action, pre 1960 class. My wife will shoot in the Standard bolt action class. 

We haven't had the opportunity to shoot the.303's since June last year, so looking forward to the weekend. 

Hopefully it won't be too bad!

Our first match of the season is next week, the Spring Classic at the Talladega Marksmanship Park.

The second competition is the qualification round for our Regional competition.

It's generally easy to qualify, but getting to the National final is not so easy.

Supposedly, depending on weather & so on I'm off to the range next Saturday!

The place can get pretty swampy after al this saturating snow, ice & rain so we'll see.

In the pre 1960 standard rifle class, I used the Resistance No4 Mk1, it is completely standard. I wasn't too happy with the performance. The trigger needs a bit of work, it's heavy.

The ISR target is smaller than the TAR ( Tir Armes Reglementaire).

The 10 is 6cm for ISR and 8cm for the TAR. 

So this was a practice at 200m for the Department TAR competition in 2 weeks time.

However, in the Match rifle class, using the 1929 BSA No1 MkIII* with the PH dioptre, I improved over last year's score.

I scored 71, 73, 75, for the three 10 shot rounds. Although I did not get any in the 10!.

I seemed to be shooting 9's and 7's. Around the centre. 

Although, the rifle is shooting well, I think it's lack of practice on my part. I haven't shot it since last June.

In the morning, just before leaving, my wife was removing the bolt on the other No4, and the ejector spring fell out in two parts! So I had to rob a spring from a spare bolt head. Luckily I had one available!

My wife shot consistently, but also lacks practice. 

Hopefully our next competition will see some improvement.

I’ve had this happen to me at 200 yards with the 3 inch  (1.5 MOA) X ring on our Military Short Range (SR) target, shots all around the periphery but none in the X ring.  It’s frustrating.  It’s usually because of not getting in a position for a natural point of aim (NPOA) and subconsciously muscling the rifle to get sight and target alignment.  

To determine if your position is at the NPOA, close the shooting eye for a few seconds, fully relax, then open your eye and see where the sights are pointing.   If the sights are not at your desired point of aim, move your body around your left elbow a bit at a time to correct the NPOA, but don’t move that left elbow!  You adjust elevation by very slight movements of your body forward and backward, correct lateral POA errors by rotating your body around the left elbow. I do this on my toes, very slight adjustments. 

Good thing you found the broken extractor spring now and not during the match!  One of the guys shooting our first match of the season on Saturday had the hammer break on his AR during the last stage of the match (600 yds prone slow fire). 

The target is reduced for the 200 metre range from the usual 300 metre IRS target. 

Looking forward to the next competition on our normal targets and hopefully some better scores!

In the modified, I was 5th out of 14 shooters. 

More participants in the post 1960 semi auto class. 

An enjoyable weekend, it's just nice to get out to the range.

First time of the year is always poorer than the rest. Its just lack of practice.

I never feel "comfortable" the first time out of the gate until at least an hour has passed I& it all just fits into, place again.

Don’t I know it after today’s performance! I hadn’t shot this poorly in the M1 match since I first took up match shooting.  

There are some shooters that seem to be just naturally good. My good shooting bud is like that, he shot a very good score today and not picked up his rifle since last October.  Not me…

Shaun, you did well!  It’s got to be tough for you to get more practice in.  I started this game way too late in life.  

Our club has organized regular practice sessions through the winter, which have been a lot of fun and well attended.

I've improved and thoroughly enjoy the Itaca/Colt 1911A1.

We have one member that is a very good pistol shot. But he prefers shooting two handed. Which is possible for the Military Vitesse and the Gong's. However he is not as comfortable shooting one handed for the Precision stage which requires shooting single handed. I have always preferred shooting one handed.

So it's been very close in the Precision practice, usually he is beating me by a couple of points.

But last time out I shot an 81, to his 80. Which was very satisfying! This a C50 target at 25 metres.

I have been struggling a bit with the gong's, but he's been helping all of us improve.

Last practice is next Saturday morning, then the competition in early April.