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TARGET SHOOTERTARGET SHOOTERMAGAZINEMAGAZINE

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40 cal bullet tests

ARMALITE - THE AR10

HODGDON POWDER TESTSShooting News

Check your neck tension

PISTOL SHOOTING

Women in Shooting

SMALLBORE SHOOTING

LONDON 2012 PARALYMPICS

JANUARY 2013

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Welcome to the new look January 2013 edition of Target Shooter Magazine

Although the winter months inevitably mean a lull in target shooting, there is plenty to look forward to –yes readers, it’s show time!

Of course, the Las Vegas Shot Show in January is the big event and you can look forward to a full report from the Target Shooter team with our free Shot Show supplement due a couple of weeks after the Show. Then, in March, we will be off to the fabulous IWA Show in Germany. IWA is growing every year and will soon equal the Shot Show in exhibitor numbers. If you can’t make the Shot Show, IWA will not disappoint.

Before IWA however, our own UK Shooting Show takes place on the 9/10th February at a new venue, the fabulous Stoneleigh Park exhibition centre. The Show was massive last year and this year it will be even bigger – thanks to organiser John Bertrand and his team and of course, your continued support. There will be plenty to see for target shooters and I can let slip that the Dolphin Gun Company will have a revolutionary new action and Osprey Rifles will also unveil an exciting new product, in addition to their new Atlas action from the Kelbly Stolle stable. We will review all these and more in our February issue.

Of course, Target Shooter will be at Stoneleigh Park, so please, stop by our stand and say hello – we will have a few of your favourite writers manning the stand, ready to answer all your reloading and shooting questions.

After all that jet-setting, it will be good to settle down behind a rifle again in readiness for the start of the competition season.

The big international event in 2013 will be the World F Class Championships, to be held at the Whittington Range, Raton, New Mexico in August and again, Target Shooter will be there, bringing you reports and photographs direct from the firing-point. But, as our GB F Class Teams fly off to Raton, our UK Benchrest Teams will jet off to Sidney, Australia to contest the World Benchrest Championships.

Finally, following the London Olympic Games, we have seen a re-shuffle of the funding for UK sport. Inevitably some sports have less money but, thanks to Peter Wilson’s fantastic Olympic Gold, GB shooting has received a 20% increase in funding!

It’s going to be a great year and you can follow every shot with Target Shooter!

Webitorial January 2013

Vince, Yvonne & Steve

Vince Bottomley

[email protected] Yvonne Wilcock

[email protected] Steve Thornton

[email protected]

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3

DisclaimerThe website www.targetshooteronline.com is part of Target Shooter magazine with all contents of both electronic media copyrighted. No reproduction is permitted unless written authorisation is provided. Information, prices and data is believed to be correct at the time of posting on the internet which is on or around the 1st of each month. Advertisements that are firearm related are from companies or individuals that Target Shooter magazine believes are licensed to hold such firearms and accepts no responsibility if companies or individuals are not so licensed. Letters and photographs submitted by members of the public to Target Shooter magazine will be accepted on the basis that the writer has agreed to publication unless otherwise stated. Target Shooter magazine has no control over the content or ownership of photographs submitted. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publishers and relate to specific circumstances within each article. These are the opinions and experiences of writers using specific equipment, firearms, components and data under controlled conditions. Information contained in the online magazine or on the website is intended to be used as a guide only and in specific circumstances caution should be used. Target Shooter Magazine does not except any responsibility for individuals attempting to recreate such testing using any information, data or other materials in its electronic pages. Publishers of Target Shooter magazine.

Editor - Vince Bottomley [email protected]

Advertising and Office Manager - Yvonne Wilcock. [email protected]

Compiled, Designed & Web Production by Steve Thornton. www.thorntonconnect.com

Jeanette Whitney - Studio photography. Yvonne Wilcok - Equipment reviews

Stuart Anselm - Project gunsmithing. Les Holgate - Match reports

Contributors - Vince Bottomley - Laurie Holland - Ken Hall - Don Brooke - Chris Parkin

Tony Saunders - Vanessa Duffy - Liz Woodhall - Des Parr - Richard Utting

David Thompson - Mike Davenport - Peter Whormersley

Back Page Photography by Steve Thornton - ThorntonConnect.com

Cover Photography by Steve Thornton - ThorntonConnect.com

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Contents January 2013 Issue

Pages 6

Page 22

Page 32

6

Dress up for winter. By Chris Parkin. We are just

starting out on the path through winter that to target

shooters like us can mean long days out in the worst of the

weather. The editor, knowing I am also a hunter and have

access to a lot of clothing to test asked me to pick out a

few of my favourite items that I thought of benefit to the

target shooter and from lightweight and easily packable

to heavyweight winter warmers, what is on offer? Unlike

most forms of hunting, target days can involve a lot of

sitting, stranding or lying around on firing points or in the

butts, `hurrying up and waiting` does not generate much

body heat to fend off the cold. If combined with rain these

can sap the will to carry on at all, never mind perform in

competition and combined with bitter wind chill we have

three main enemies to defeat.

The Armalite AR10 by Vince Bottomley & Laurie

Holland. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to fire one of

these rifles, you’ll know what a great weapon it is. Sadly,

in the UK, we now only get to own the manually-operated

version – or straight-pull as we call ‘em.

UKPSA Practical Pistol by David Thompson. The

Frontier 40 Calibre Match Bullet. I have carried out a series

of accuracy and velocity tests on Frontier’s .40 calibre 180

grain FMJ match bullet. The bullet style is a truncated cone

flat point. I selected 20 bullets at random out of the box

and check the diameter with a Mitutoyo digital calliper.

All 20 bullets were 0.400 inch or 10.16mm diameter. I also

weighted all 20 bullets. They ranged from 179.8 to 181.0

grains. The average weight was 180.33 grains. The bullet

shape is similar to commercially loaded 180 grain FMJ

factory ammunition.

UKPSA News by David Thompson. Northern

Ireland Target Sports Association Practical

Pistol Competition. The Northern Ireland Target

Sports Association (NITSA) organised a practical pistol

competition on 27th October 2012, which was held at

their range complex near Banbridge in County Down.

In the run up to the match date club members designed

and built and then assembled all the targets and props

required for the stages.

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Page 38

Page 42

Page 62

Page 68

Contents Continued & More...

The Long View by Des Parr. Decisions, decisions... The 2012

season is over and now is the time to reflect on what has passed and

learn what lessons we can from our endeavours this year. For most

F-classers, this means making an assessment of their performance

and deciding what if anything needs to change in order to meet their

expectations. We all have such expectations, regarding our objectives

and our performance, so when those expectations are not realised,

it is time to assess our kit and ourselves and make the necessary

improvements.

This Smallbore Business – by Brooksie. Training on

electronic machinery. These days, the use of electronics are

commonplace for training. Indeed many shooters have purchased

them, either as a club unit, or personally.

Do not get me wrong here, as they are quite handy, in the sense that

the shooters gain a result for their training work. They can see the

result of good technique on their monitor. Many of them think the

good old days of dry-fire at last has some interest for them and they

commit to training at home. This alone is a plus! Just by the fact

that more time is spent with the gear

on and rifle in hand.

ELEY Open New USA Test Range. Today,

ELEY opens a brand new state of the art test

facility in Winters, Texas . The range was

opened by triple Olympic Medal winner Matt

Emmons and 2012 Gold Medal winner Jamie

Gray.

Say Hello to Mr Nock by Mike Davenport

FCA. Mike Davenport, shooter and historian,

looks at another gunmaker who help shape

our history and was the fore-runner of the still

famous Wilkinson Sword brand. A big surprise

for Bickerstaff when, having cornered Sgt

Major Harper in the film Sharps Rifles, finds a

Nock volley gun pressed against his chest and

an even bigger surprise when Harper cocks

and fires it.

Regulars & more

LATEST NEWS

Page 68

FROM THE BENCH

Page 31

THE LONG VIEW

Page 38

SMALLBORE - BROOKSIE

Page 842

DISABLED NEWS

Pages 76

PARALYMPIC GAMES

Page 84

NECK TENSION

Page 64

RIMFIRE

Page 26

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UKPSA Practical Pistolby David Thompson

Northern Ireland Target Sports Association Practical Pistol CompetitionUKPSA by David Thompson

Not as noticeable in the big practical pistol matches in Europe you still see a lot of Glock pistols in club matches.

7


The Northern Ireland Target Sports Association (NITSA) organised a practical pistol competition on 27th October 2012, which was held at their range complex near Banbridge in County Down.

In the run up to the match date club members designed and built and then assembled all the targets and props required for the stages.

Northern Ireland Target Sports Association PracticalPistol Competition

8


Production Division has expanded in practical pistol competition, as Colin Beattie demonstrates with his Sig.

9


Eight Stage MatchThe competition consisted of eight stages, with a minimum round count of 170. The match consisted of two long stages of 30 and 32 rounds, three medium stages of 24 rounds and three short stages of 12 rounds.

The stages used a blend of shoot and no shoot targets and partial shoot targets to increase the difficulty. The use of walls and barriers with apertures at different heights increased the difficulty of the stages. Each stage had both full size targets, which allowed you to speed up your shots and a combination of partial

targets, with many obscured by no-shoot targets, which meant that you had to slow it down to ensure that you got the hits and avoided getting misses or hitting the no-shoots.

Stage 4 had a series of multiple shooting positions. Also the use of overlapping targets combined with no shoot targets, left many competitors struggling to get the required number of hits and also avoiding the no shoot penalty targets. Stage 5 involved carrying a water filled barrel, this meant that you had to shoot one handed or set the barrel down to use two hands and then pick it up again, which obviously added to your time.

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Competing in Production Division Philip Middleton finished in second place in this Division.

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Competitor-activated swingers and steel reactive targets were used in three of the stages. The stages were designed to offer varying degrees of difficulty and with the score sheets being processed throughout the competition, the results were published and available very quickly after all the competitors had completed their last stages.

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Jamie Dick used a Para Ordnance in .45 ACP calibre to finish in third

place in Standard Division.

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Results:Standard DivisionRobert McKee took first place. Jeffrey McComb and Jamie Dick took second and third place.

Production DivisionDavid Thompson came in first place, with Philip Middleton and Stephen Potts in second and third place. Jim McEwan took the top spot in Open Division.

As well as attracting competitors from Northern Ireland, we also had a group of competitors from the Republic of Ireland who also participated in the match. Many thanks to all the competitors who attended the match and to all the range

14


The 9mm CZ75 Shadow is the most commonly encountered

pistol in Production Division.

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officers and NITSA members for their hard work and enthusiasm that was put into running the competition. Northern Ireland Target Sports AssociationThe Northern Ireland Target Sports Association (NITSA) range complex is situated just south of Banbridge near Loughbrickland, County Down. A Registered Firearms Dealership also operates out of the facility and you can see more on their web site at www.TheReloadShop.com The club hosts a series of competitions each month, which include Police and Service Pistol, Cowboy Action, 1500 PPC and bench rest. Of interest to

those who shoot practical pistol, NITSA hold a monthly club level Practical Pistol competition using just under 100 rounds of ammunition, to which all are welcome. The club plan to run three large practical pistol competitions (like the event reported on here) three times per year, between spring and autumn. You can find out more by looking at their web sitewww.nitsa.org.uk

For those who live in England, Scotland and Wales there is a special membership offer currently available which would enable you to use the club handguns free of charge. For more details on this membership offer please email [email protected]

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22 RimfireBy Carl Boswell

Rimfire Benchrestby Carl BoswellRimfire Benchrest National Shoot – Victoria Australia 29th

Nov – 2nd Dec 2012. The shoot was conducted in Victoria

at the Melbourne International Shooting Club (MISC) with

one day of practice followed by 25m Benchrest Air on

30th Nov., 50m Sporter and Light Varmint on 1st Dec. and

the premier 50m Heavy Varmint on 2nd Dec.

This well attended event was the highlight of benchrest shooting in Victoria for 2012. It was the first time that three and four-gun competitions have been run anywhere in Australia - combining both Rimfire and Air. Attendees came from New South Wales and Victoria state and city.

The wind conditions varied; being a baffled range, wind coming from the east over a backstop caused circulation and rapid moves of left to right wind, requiring shooters to be ‘on the ball’ and ready to fire immediately their selected wind conditions were recognised.

The range at MISC is a specialist benchrest range with permanent benches with brick bases and concrete tops. On competition days the range was a sea of flags, propellers and other various forms of wind indicators.

AirThe 25 metre Benchrest Air was won by Richard Lightfoot with a score of 726 and 16 centres, followed by Matthew Brough with a score of 724 and 16 centres and Max Joiner of Lancefield with a score of 722 and 17

centres. The remaining shooters in order of score were Annette Rowe, Rob Austin, Chris Nocente, Bill Collaros, Brett Wilson, Harry Fuller, David Cominie and Patrick Wolfe.

Day 2 – 50m SporterHere, New South Wales shooter Rob Austin starred with a score of 495 and 20 centres, followed by Bill Collaros with a score of 491 and 18 centres and Brett Wilson with a score of 490 and 22 centres. These were followed by Glen Seaman, Richard Lightfoot, Annette Rowe, Chris Nocente, Max Joiner, Matthew Brough, Patrick Wolfe, Hannah Seaman, Emily Seaman, Roger Brooks.

Light VarmintThere were 13 shooters, with Bill Collaros using his Sporter (Croc), scoring 494 with 18 centres - a really top effort using a small gun. Followed by Rob Austin, Brett Wilson, Richard Lightfoot, Max Joiner, Glen Seaman, Chris Nocente, Matthew Brough, Annette Rowe, Patrick Wolfe, Hannah Seaman, Emily Seaman and Harry Fuller. The Seaman girls shot well and are up and coming Juniors. Heavy VarmintThe premier event was the Heavy Varmint on the Sunday with twenty-seven shooters of which three were Juniors. Chris Nocente was the winner with a score of 744 and 37 centres - a top score for such changing conditions. Chris scored his first 250. The other winners were Brett Wilson with 741 and Bill Collaros with 739.

Plenty of wind-flags...

17


In the three-gun competition, Bill Collaros’ good score in the Light Varmit gave him a win ahead of Rob Austin and Brett Wilson.

In the four-gun competition, the places were reversed and the value of Rob Austin’s good shoot in Air gave him the win at 2440 narrowly beating Bill Collaros at 2436 and again Brett Wilson at 2428. The full scores of this event can be seen on the TRVwebsite.

The washup of this event highlighted the enthusiasm of shooters to travel long distances and try different disciplines. I believe that Air 25 metres is a shooting discipline that will expand as shooting Air is considerably cheaper than Rimfire. It has its own difficulties with wind at 25 metres and, as it is shot on the same 25 metre target as Rimfire, is directly comparable in difficulty.

We were very fortunate to have Harry Fuller attend, a very well known Air shooter. Harry providing great insight into checking of pellets and in particular the determining of the best quality pellets to maintain and achieve good scores.

The competition was dominated by the three principal shooters from New South Wales, namely Rob Austin, Brett Wilson and Bill Collaros. The top Victorian shooter was Richard Lightfoot who although got a 249 and a 248 in the Heavy Varmit at 50 metres was reminded of his luck, bad luck or inability to judge wind conditions by shooting a 238 on his third card. Again

Competitors in action...

Plenty of wind-flags...

all shooters were reminded of that classic statement ‘the wind is not your friend’!

Further matches at MISC range will be held in 2013 leading up to the first selection trials for the 2015 Third World Rimfire and Air Competition to be held in Brisbane. These selection matches will be held in Sydney in September 2013, Melbourne in 2014 and Brisbane in early 2015.

I believe that as Air rifle shooting, benchrest-style, is now accepted as a competitive form of shooting, it is now necessary to consider monthly shoots on the same basis as the Warren Potent to help raise the

Annette Rowe achieves the elusive 250 at RBA Melbourne shoot

The Champions...

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standards further and ensure that Australia succeeds in 2015. As a lead up to the 2015 event, an Australian team will be going to the European Titles, World Cup in Plzen in the Czech Republic in 2013.

If any Benchrest, Rimfire or Air shooter wants further information please check the WARBF website or Richard Lightfoot at [email protected]

Annette Rowe, (See photo on previous page) now a seasoned shooter both at Melbourne International Shooting Club, Target Rifle Victoria and also has participated as a Team Member of the Australian RBA Team in Charleston, South Carolina in 2011. She will also be an Australian Team Member at the European Titles in Plzen, Czech Republic in 2013.

The aim of the benchrest shooter is not to achieve a score but to minimise the loss of points, where possible and achieve the elusive 250 out of 250 is a wonderful achievement. For those who have achieved the same will share and congratulate Annette on her shooting a 250 in Melbourne in December 2012. The conditions were tricky as the scores recorded by other top shooters demonstrate.

Annette is a great team member, always willing to help and, along with shooting at the RBA event, was one of the co-organisers and had to undertake considerable administrative duties whilst the shoot was on. She had to swap between check scoring and shooting.

We congratulate Annette on achieving this milestone and know that with her determination she is bound to score many more 250s.

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Forster Benchrest Reloading Dies The perfect dies for benchrest and target shooters seeking the very best accuracy.

The Hybrid design blends the best of both worlds by incorporating two different shapes within the nose. As

the bearing surface ends, a tangent ogive begins. This tangent section of the ogive results in the bullet being much less sensitive to seating depth. As you move forward along the tangent portion, the shape changes into a secant ogive (the shape used on the VLD bullets). This shape is very efficient in the wind and is why the VLD became so popular. Check out the Berger website for more details.

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A bullet pointing die can be used make a sharper point on a match bullet. By doing this, we have made the bullet fly more efficiently resulting in less drop and wind drift. This can benefit any rifle shooter who shoots at longer ranges .

Developed and tested by us state and national long range champion John Whidden, the Bullet Pointing Die improves the bullet co-efficient giving on average a 5% gain in accuracy. With our bullet pointing die, we can make the meplat smaller rather than bigger. Consider that typicallythe bullet pointing die, will close the meplat up to about half of its original diameter. Which gives a frontal area surface area only one fourth of the original asize. This is the reason the pointing die is so effective.

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22

40 Calibre Match Bullet

The Frontier40 CalibreMatch Bullet

23


I have carried out a series of accuracy and velocity tests on Frontier’s .40 calibre 180

grain FMJ match bullet. The bullet style is a truncated cone flat point. I selected

20 bullets at random out of the box and check the diameter with a Mitutoyo digital

calliper. All 20 bullets were 0.400 inch or 10.16mm diameter. I also weighted all 20

bullets. They ranged from 179.8 to 181.0 grains. The average weight was 180.33

grains. The bullet shape is similar to commercially loaded 180 grain FMJ factory

ammunition.

UKPSA Practical Pistol by David Thompson

The Frontier 40 Calibre Match Bullet

24


The Frontier .40 match bullet has a diameter of 0.400 inches and a weight variation of 1.2 grains over the 20 bullets that were weighted.

25

40 Calibre Match BulletFrontier Metal Processing was established in 1994 by Nico Economakis and has since grown to a successful manufacturing business of lead and complete metal jacket (CMJ) bullets, distributing its products throughout the world.

Frontier (www.frontierbullets.co.za) was founded by Nico as an extension of his hobby into a business venture. He is a keen IPSC shooter who used to cast his own bullets, both for himself and for his friends. He soon started to manufacture commercially and eventually bought industrial bullet making machinery. Today Frontier is one of the leading manufacturers of complete metal jacketed bullets in the world.Frontiers factory runs 24 hours, five days a week to keep up with demand of its products and to ensure the

effectiveness of the manufacturing process. The entire management team at Frontier consist of people who are passionate about shooting. The testing, research and development of Frontier products are done at the factory by shooters who are putting the bullets through tests for accuracy and velocity, resulting in a product for shooters tested and developed by shooters.

Vihtavuori N320, Hodgdon Tite Group and Alliant Power Pistol are all popular powders used in IPSC Standard Division.

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The Frontier .40 calibre match bullets were tested in a STI Executive. A Ransom Rest was used to test the accuracy and a CED M2 Chronograph was used o record the velocity.

27


Reloading the .40 S&W Round The 40 S&W round was designed to operate in pistols that originally had a 9mm operating platform. The length of factory 40 S&W ammunition is generally around an overall length of 28.80 mm. Whilst this may work OK in pistols such as the Glock and Sig, for those of you who use pistols such as STI, SVI and Para Ordnance you will probably experience failures to chamber properly with ammunition loaded to factory length. The way to overcome this problem is to reload ammunition to a longer overall length. Many IPSC practical pistol competitors who compete in Standard Division on the European IPSC Match Circuit reload their ammunition to an complete overall length (COL) of 29.50 mm to 31mm. The COL used in our test was 29.50mm.

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Tite Group produced a 54mm groupwith a power factor of 177.

TPower Pistol produced a 35mmgroup with a power factor of 176.

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40 Calibre Match BulletThe following 40 calibre loads were assembled using Alliant Power Pistol, Hodgdon Tite Group and Vihtavuori N320 powders. The velocities were recorded in feet per second (FPS) using a CED Millennium M2 Chronograph. As well as measuring the velocity I also tested the accuracy out of a STI Executive with the assistance of

a Ransom Rest. The three powders were chosen as they are widely available and see a lot of use in IPSC competition.

Alliant Power PistolDesigned for high performance loads in semi automatic pistols and is a good choice powder of choice for 9mm, 38 Super, 40 S&W and 357 SIG. This powder was designed for with IPSC loads being a primary consideration. Fast burning and consistent, the principal purpose is for use with high performance loads in 9mm, 38 Super, 40 S&W and 10mm Auto. It can also be used in a range of moderately loaded pistol cartridges.

Hodgdon Tite GroupHodgdon make a range of powders for reloading pistol ammunition. Tite Group works very well across a range of calibres and I have had excellent results using it in 38 Special, 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 ACP.

Vihtavuori N300 SeriesThe N300 series powders are single base porous powders suitable for many handgun applications. There are altogether nine handgun powders with different kind of shooting properties and suitable applications. Vihtavuori

N320 is also used by the STI European Team to reload .40 calibre ammunition. This handgun powder has a comparatively fast burning rate. As well as 9mm and .40 S&W it is useful in many popular cartridges.

The results show that the Frontier .40 calibre 180 grain CMJ flat point match bullet works across a range of powders that are popular with competitors and would be a good bullet choice for use in any practical pistol competition.

For Further InformationVisit Frontier Bullets wesite at;

www.frontierbullets.co.za

Frontier bullets are available in

the UK from;

www.TheReloadShop.com

Powder Make Charge Weight (Grains) Velocity (FPS) Power Factor Group Size (mm / inch)

N320 5.0 971 175 55 / 2.150

Power Pistol 6.3 978 176 35 / 1.375

Tite Group 4.7 984 177 54 / 2.125

Results

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31

FROM THE BENCH ...VINCE’S REGULAR COLUMN WHEREBY ACCURACY NUTS CAN KEEP UP TO DATE

WITH THE ACTIVITIES OF THE UKBRA AND ACCURACY RELATED ITEMS

CompetitionsFor Round 2 of the UKBRA’s 600 yard winter series, it was not a bad day – for Diggle in mid-December! Yes it was cold, yes it rained and yes – it was windy!

Darrel Evans is the current UKBRA 600 yard Champion and he was on form again today with that amazing Accuracy International rifle. Although it sports a front and rear ‘bag-rider’, it still looks remarkably standard but boy, does it shoot. Although competing in ‘Factory’ class, Darrel took the outright win with three of his four groups in the ‘twos’. Ian Dixon denied him the ‘full set’ though by taking small group with a 1.543 incher. Results:Factory Sporter (av. of four, 5-shot groups) 1st - Darrel Evans. 6.5x47 A Int. 3.66” 2nd - Alan Seagrave. 308 Sako TRG. 4.921”3rd - Sean Broxham. 6.5-284 Savage. 5.545”Small group: 2.124 inches. Darrel Evans. Light Gun1st - Ian Dixon. 6x47 TGP Stolle. 3.837”2nd - Bruce Lenton. 6mmBR TGP Winchester. 4.044”3rd - Jeanette Whitney. 243AI TGP Stiller. 4.219”Small group: 1.543 inches. Ian Dixon.

Heavy Gun1st - Bob Nicholson. 6.5-284 RPA. 3.692”2nd - Andy Fellerman. 5.012”3rd - Dale Almond. 308 Remington. 6.235”Small group: 2.409 inches. Bob Nicholson.

EventsIf you are like accurate rifles and interested in getting involved in benchrest, our 2013 calendar is now on the UKBRA website at www.6ppc.co.uk Our 100, 600 and 1000 yard shoots are held at Diggle ranges but the British Benchrest Rifle Club (affiliated to the UKBRA) hold 100 yard benchrest shoots one a month at Bisley throughout the year.

Our next 600 yard Diggle shoot is on Sunday January 27th and the Bisley Benchrest Rifle Club’s first 100 yard shoot of 2013 is on Sunday 13th January.

Ian Dixon with his6-6.5x47 Stolle

3232

The Armalite AR10 by Vince Bottomley

and Laurie Holland.

The Armalite AR10By Vince Bottomley&Laurie Holland

Top, the 6.5x47 Lapua; centre, our Creedmoor and bottom, the 260 Rem.

3333


and Laurie Holland.

The Armalite AR10 by

Vince Bottomley and

Laurie HollandIf you’ve ever had the opportunity to fire one of these rifles, you’ll know what a great weapon it is. Sadly, in the UK, we now only get to own the manually-operated version – or straight-pull as we call ‘em.

In straight-pull form, it’s the 223 version which tends to be most popular in the UK – it just works better as a straight-pull – the 308 version can of-fer extraction problems, which tends to negate the whole point of this kind of rifle as a ‘practical’ rifle for rapid-fire disciplines.

However, shooters are becoming increasingly disillusioned with the 223 Rem. - for ranges out to and beyond 600 yards. Cartridges like the 6.5 Grendel and the 6.8 SPC have attempted to address this issue but often the outcome is less than satisfactory in a competitive scenario.

Well, our reloading guru, Laurie Holland is a great fan of the AR platform – even building his F/TR rifle around and Eliseo chassis and, he also has three ARs – one chambered in 223, one in 6.8 SPC and the other, the 308 AR10 Armalite, which is the subject of this little article.

Yes, Laurie loves the ass-kicking ability of the AR10 and its 308 cartridge but the extraction issues make the rifle less than able in rapid-fire situations. We discussed the possibility of a re-barrel – thinking around cartridges suitable for the 308 bolt-head and this time, we don’t

really want a wildcat – in fact, a factory ammo. option would be handy and of course, it must fit the 308 mag-azine. There is a limited choice – 6.5x47 Lapua, 260 Rem., 6BR of course and, the 6.5 Creedmoor. When Hornady introduced the 6.5 Creedmoor a couple of years ago, we both liked the look of it – very close to a couple of our ‘tactical’ favorites – being slightly larger than the 6.5x47 Lapua and a tad shorter than the 260 Rem. Initially, I was a fan of the 6.5x47 Lapua but then, I ‘discovered’ the 260 Rem. which, combined with Lapua’s new brass, looked like the ideal tactical car-

tridge. However, although the 260 will give marginally better ballistics than the 6.5x47 is not as ‘efficient’ a car-tridge and my ‘accuracy’ rounds don’t take advantage of the 260s case-capacity, giving only 6.5x47 ballistics. I would like to think that the Creedmoor will address this and comfortably exceed the ballistics of both with bul-lets in the 123gn. range.

The components of the Armalite receiver. The barrel tenon is nothing special – the clever bit is the barrel-stub containing the lugs. The circular ring locks the whole lot together. Clever!

3434


and Laurie Holland.

How would will it work in the AR10? It ticks all the afore-mentioned boxes and hopefully should (manually) ex-tract a bit better than the 308 Win. Let’s get the reamer or-dered Laurie!

Incidentally, Armalite now offer the AR10 in a variety of chamberings in addition to the 308, including the 260 Rem and the 243 Win. but not – I’m pleased to say – the Creedmoor.

We’ve now got the reamer – from Pa-cific Tool & Gauge and for once, it’s their standard print – no fancy tight-necks here, we simply want a standard chamber for a stand-ard round which, if necessary, will operate with factory ammunition.

Our barrel is a 1 in 8.5 twist stainless-steel Lothar Walther. Lothar Walther? Simply because it was ‘avail-able’ but, I’ve no problem with Lothar Walther – yes, they have a reputation of hardness but I’ve always found that the internal finish on their barrels is excellent. I’m finishing the barrel at a ‘handlable’ 23 inches, which will easily be long enough to burn the Creedmoor’s powder and push a 123 grain bullet at around 3000 fps – hope-fully! If it does and it extracts, it will give Laurie’s Ar-malite a good gain over the current AR 15 cartridges at longer ranges.

At this point – a word of thanks to buddy Dave Wylde of Valkyrie Rifles in South Yorkshire. (See Above Image).

Dave not only lent me the tools to free-off the existing barrel, plus the Creedmoor go/no-go gauges but also gave me a good bit of advice in re-barreling an AR – as this is my first one!

With the Lothar Walther spinning in the lathe, it was all pretty straightforward and, of course, we don’t have to worry about the gas port – more’s the pity! Being

more used to fitting barrels up to a simple ac-tion-shoulder, I couldn’t help but

admire the inventive-ness of the

original Eu-gene Stoner design in overcoming the problems of barrel installation, multi-lug bolt, hand-guard etc. I just wish we had the opportunity to use this rifle in semi-auto form - in competition - as you do in the rest of the civilized world.

The new barrel is now installed, so my bit is almost finished. I’ve also knocked-up a military-style muzzle-brake from an old bit of barrel – hope Laurie likes it! Af-ter media-blasting the barrel and re-assembly, it’s over to Laurie, to find out if our venture is a success.

More next month.

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The long ViewNews from the GB F-Class Association by Des Parr

The Long View by Des ParrDecisions, decisions...The 2012 season is over and now is the time to reflect on what has passed and learn what lessons we can from our endeavors this year. For most F-classers, this

means making an assessment of their performance and deciding what if anything needs to change in order to meet their expectations. We all have such expectations, regarding our objectives and our performance, so when those expectations are not realised, it is time to assess our kit and ourselves and make the necessary improvements.

Winter is traditionally when most F-classers get their rifle work done; it’s the time when we conveniently don’t need our rifles for competition and when gunsmiths are able to devote more time to our projects.

When deciding on what improvements are needed, we are faced with decisions like - is the barrel on its last legs or will it see another season? If it needs replacing, then which barrel should you choose?

Does your stock track the way it ought to? Does it even fit you properly? If not, then what alternatives are out there – what have most other people found to be best? Learning from what other shooters are doing is perhaps the most common way of finding out how to improve your kit.

These questions and many more are typical of the sort of questions we find ourselves asking at this time of year in order to come back next year, better equipped and ready to achieve higher levels of performance. Finding answers to such questions is half the fun – or half the battle if you are baffled!

Having good quality hard data to guide your decisions is ideal, but such information is rare. It is at this point we must be thankful for the initiative shown by Vince Bottomley. At the Europeans this year, when you got your rifle weighed, you will recall having to fill in a questionnaire regarding all sorts of aspects of your rifle and ammo’. That was down to Vince and his experience of benchrest shooting, where it is more common to collect and publish data on equipment used by competitors. It is a good idea and one which I warmly welcome.

Vince has very kindly collated all of your responses and has provided the data and some analysis. Of course, with getting on for 200 shooters from several countries, there were a few (well, make that several) illegible submissions and omissions but, analysis of the remainder makes for interesting reading.

38

Decisions, Decisions! THE LONG VIEW

With Des Parr

I am much obliged to Vince for this information, it is precisely the sort of good quality data from exactly the right population and it comes at exactly the right time. I do hope that you will find this useful in guiding your choices of kit for next year.

Who Shot What – The Europeans Statistics

Rifle actions:If I had to make a guess, I’d have plumped for Barnard as the most popular and indeed, this was the case with 36 Barnards – about a fifth of the entry - but the second most popular action was the British RPA with 18 and then surprisingly, BAT with 15 users. This did

surprise me - clearly, (some) F Class shooters know their actions! It was nice to see the Savages and Remingtons still in there - proving that you don’t need to spend a fortune to compete in F Class. There were plenty of ‘one-offs’ which are not recorded.

Stocks:Well, this wasn’t quite as informative – hardly anyone (except Herr Scherf) makes their own action but plenty

have a go at making a stock – which is why this list is a lot smaller than the one for actions. The odd trend did emerge however, with the Canadian Robertson the choice of many of you but, I’m betting that the picture will be very different next year with many new exciting designs emerging – including our own Joe West stocks.The abundance of Accuracy International and McMillan A5 stocks suggests many F/TR shooters are clearly still in ‘sniper’ mode – which was, after all, the original intention when the F/TR Class was introduced ie; to include tactical-style rifles.

Barrels:There is much less choice regarding the barrel. No matter who you are or where you come from, no one makes their own barrel!

A clear result for Bartlein here but the number of Krieger barrels did surprise me. These two makes have a clear lead, with Broughton, True-flite, Border and Lothar Walther battling for third place. It is particularly good to see our own home-grown Border Barrels are significant suppliers in this market which is dominated by imports. Importing barrels seems to grow ever

Here’s the list:

OPEN F/TRBarnard 19 Barnard 17BAT 14 RPA 9RPA 9 Savage 7Stolle 6 Stolle 5GOL 5 Remington 4Nesika 5 Sako 4Remington 3 Nesika 2Savage 2 Gol 2Lawton 2 Keppler 2Grunig 2Menke 2RG Rifles 2

OPEN F/TRRobertson GB F 13 McMillan A5 9McMillan 8 Accuracy Intl. 7Precision Rifle & Tool 5 Robertson 4Shehane 5 Dolphin 2Gemini 4 PSE 2Kelbly 3 Choate 2

A clear result for Bartlein BARRELS but the number of Krieger barrels did surprise me.

OPEN F/TRBartlein 27 Bartlein 19Krieger 19 True flite 8Lothar Walther 9 Broughton 6Broughton 7 Krieger 5Border 6 Border 5Trueflite 3 Savage (factory) 5Savage 2 Lilja 4 Lothar Wather 3

39


With Des Parr

more time-consuming and tedious, so it is good to see that we still have a competitive, easily-available alternative right on our doorstep – as used by the 2012 European Champion, Lee Tomlinson.

Cartridges:Of course there’s no point listing F/TR - not even Laurie Holland was using his 223!

OPEN7mm WSM 26284 176.5-284 166.5x47 67mm SAUM 5

Vince thought that the 7mm SAUM might have made more inroads but clearly, the ‘effers’ found out what he found in 1000 yard benchrest – stick with the WSM! What about the brave souls using the 6.5x47 Lapua? It is a fine cartridge but a wee bit under-gunned for the Europeans. The 284 shooters were split – with about a third shooting the Shehane version. A common outlook is that the cost of Shehane dies can be off-putting, hence many guys stick with the ‘straight’ 284. We can clearly see that the 6.5-284 still has a loyal following and quite understandably too, the 6.5/284 was the cartridge to beat for many years – until the 7mms came along. It is still a fine cartridge.

The rest were made up of oddments ranging from the 300 Win. Magnum, down to the 6mmXC.

One of the main attractions of F-class is the freedom to choose whatever cartridge takes your fancy and run with it. Some choices are obviously rather more well-founded than others, nevertheless I would not decry anyone

the opportunity to test out their theories to their own satisfaction.

That concludes the data such as it is, for completeness, it would have been desirable to have more information on such things as choices of bullet, powder and scope.

In F/TR, it would have been especially beneficial to have data on the bullet weight used – that could have been useful to inform the current debate regarding light or heavy bullets. As is often the case with data collections, the data proves addictive and generates more questions that can only be answered by collecting more information.

I am most grateful for Vince for collecting this

information and providing his commentary on it, I do

hope we can build on his initiative and make it a regular

part of the Europeans. Next year, please do take your

time to fill in the questionnaire.

Hopefully, you will find the information beneficial in

guiding your choices for next year to enable you to

come back next season rearmed and re-equipped and

ready to compete to your highest expectations.

I hope you all had a very happy Christmas and good

shooting in 2013.

Des.

The long ViewNews from the GB F-Class

Association by Des Parr

40


With Des Parr

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ThisSMALLBORE Business

by Don BrookeThis Smallbore Business

These days, the use of electronics are commonplace for training. Indeed many shooters have purchased them, either as a club unit, or personally.

Do not get me wrong here, as they are quite handy, in the sense that the shooters gain a result for their training work. They can see the result of good technique on their monitor. Many of them think the good old days of dry-fire at last has some interest for them and they commit to training at home. This alone is a plus! Just by the fact that more time is spent with the gear on and rifle in hand.

I can tell you, I would have loved to have had this facility when I was training, let me tell you!

So, to start off, what are the advantages of using a machine such as the Scatt, Knoptell, Rika, and others?

a) You are able to fine-tune a great deal about your hold and recognise the

dimensions of it.

b) You are able to fine-tune your breathing sequence relative to the motion of the rifle and target alignment to the waterline of the target.c) You are able to regulate the consistency of the approach to the target in all three positions, according to the trace line displayed.d) You are able to monitor the aiming and release sequence, according to the trigger release.e) You can also very carefully watch the rifle movement, purely by observing the follow through method, which allows you to see if you have moved the rifle under trigger release.

So, what are the disadvantages?

1 - None of the electronics can give you any control over the recoil strike of the full bore, or 300m calibre rifles. The lighter recoil of the 22 rimfire, and air

rifle, then become part of the follow-through sequence. It is

hugely important to have correct

follow-through, but fullbore and 300m shooters are often finding discrepancies even though the shot-

release appeared

good.

Training on electronic machinery...

42


by Don Brooke

2 - You are operating at the speed of light, which can often give you a false feedback.

3 - There is a growing phenomenon for shooters to look at light speed results, which is far faster than it actually is. There are also those around who prefer to set the machine to ‘Easy’ which, in turn, can build the shooters confidence, yet does not translate to target results when back on the range.

4 - Because of the light speed results, shooters are mislead, about their techniques and results on range sometimes do not compare with their ‘results’ on the electronics.

5 - Many shooters have no idea of how to read the graphics illustrated on the machine, nor determine the remedies if any are needed. As such they become focussed on the shot ‘hold-trace’ and often fail to notice the little things that make a very big difference in where that shot hole is placed. There is sometimes a significant difference in the shot nomination factor when on the range compared to what you see on the electronics.

So, when operating the learning process on the electronics, reading the hold graphics, shot placement, and follow-through trace is extremely important.

Usually a shooter, in all fields, can hold the ten-ring easily enough but the shape of the hold-trace needs to be a small as is humanly possible. I have seen shooters who have a hold-trace that is only just inside the ten-ring (prone) yet moves out of the ten-ring on shot release. This is a release sequence movement by operation of the trigger.

If you see this (at light speed) you ARE moving the rifle, so this area needs to be addressed carefully in your operation of the trigger. It can be either in the address to the trigger, or just a plain old ‘mash’ with the trigger finger! It may also be due to inconsistent trigger-hand pressures but, be what ever, it is dangerous to your results.

I know, under my own training with a 20x telescopic sight, that I can hold a single 22 bullet hole at 50m, while I have also seen a fullbore shooter in my training squad, that can easily hold a 1 inch spotting disc at 300 yards. His hold movement on an international 300m target is easily well inside the X ring…. More importantly though, the hold movement is circular!

If your trace, on the electronics show a tight hold but is tending to have the ragged edges shown in Fig 1 there

Fig 1 shows a typical hold pattern to be wary of. The jagged edges represent a hold trace that is mostly within the ten ring, yet produces shots on the extremities of the hold trace, and usually well outside the ten ring. The shot displayed is more than likely caused by snapping at the trigger as the hold moves into the ten ring, and is further illustrated by the follow through trace in blue.

This illustration shows a hold trace (red) in which is well inside the ten ring, and produces an X, after disturbing the rifle somewhere in the release sequence, illustrated by the blue follow through trace. Notice the two breaths illustrated as the red trace approaches the X ring, and then is breathed further into the middle. A great deal can be gathered watching the blue trace of the follow through, as this shows rifle movement at the moment of release.

43


are problems with relaxation of the forward geometry and a hold pattern such as this, at some stage, will register a shot on the outside of the jagged edge of the hold and runs a high chance of shot loss. It is extremely necessary to ensure the hold pattern on the electronics has a round movement - see Fig 2. You will also see that though the hold looks motionless through the sights, it DOES move! (If it doesn’t you are dead...) If you look at Fig 3 this will illustrate what an ideal follow through should be. The shot-hole diagram is centred within the hold pattern and the follow-through segment trace is surrounding it. If the follow through trace does not move away from the shot hole, your shot techniques are correct.

With smallbore (specifically) the follow-through movement should be directly over the shot hole graphic and not move from it until the follow through is complete. This is crucial in prone and kneeling shooting, whilst it can also happen with standing, though usually to a much lesser timing. Whatever you determine from this aspect of reading the hold/shot release trace, the follow-through sequence will show you exactly where your techniques are flawed.

I have said, for the entire length of my writings for this magazine, that follow-through is so crucial to success.

An example of this - a fullbore shooter under our team care, who was having loads of difficulty scoring over a 47 ex.50 during a Teams match in Brisbane. I knew what his trouble was due to and the team manager INSTRUCTED him to come and talk to me.

I just told him to lock his face on the cheek-piece and do not release it until the target moved downwards. His next string was a 49.9 at 1000 yards - which in fact helped the team to win the Australia match!This guy had been distraught at losing the match for us, as he was one heck of a team shooter under a wind-

coach (as so many are, including myself). Just that simple instruction made an incredible difference to his group-size and the wind-coach’s ability to gain the information he needed to read the range.

So, when training on the electronics, study carefully the hold-trace, including the shape of it. Watch that the follow-through graphic stays over the shot hole for an extended period and you are well on the way to excellence in target shooting. This would indicate to me, as a techniques coach, that my student is getting there, even at light speed!

Finally, I have been asked to recommend an electronic trainer as the better one of the group available.

This is personal preference as each of them perform the same levels. Well, MY preference is the Knoptell but many use the Scatt. I have used the Rika and some of the others. Like I said, pick your poison and go for it, as the most important thing about them is - if read correctly - the perfection of your techniques.

In my day, they were not available when I was training, so do not expect them to be the magical road to high levels of success. I have always said...“The harder I work, the luckier I get!”

Brooksie.

Figure three shows an ideal trace line to X ring aiming, and is then followed through correctly, indicated by the follow through trace directly over the hold trace, and the shot hole itself. This prone technique illustrated indicates the whole process is in place, and also applies for Kneeling shooting. Shooting standing, and the resultant trace lines will be the subject in next months issue.

44

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46

Dressing for WinterBy Chris Parkin

A Review by Chris ParkinDRESS UP FOR WINTER

47


DRESS UP FOR WINTER

Dress up for winterby Chris Parkin

We are just starting out on the path through

winter that to target shooters like us can mean

long days out in the worst of the weather. The

editor, knowing I am also a hunter and have

access to a lot of clothing to test asked me

to pick out a few of my favourite items that I

thought of benefit to the target shooter and from

lightweight and easily packable to heavyweight

winter warmers, what is on offer? Unlike most

forms of hunting, target days can involve a lot of

sitting, stranding or lying around on firing points

or in the butts, `hurrying up and waiting` does not

generate much body heat to fend off the cold.

If combined with rain these can sap the will to

carry on at all, never mind perform in competition

and combined with bitter wind chill we have

three main enemies to defeat.

48


Harkila ProhunterThe Prohunter suit is what you might consider an expensive option but subtle features reveal undeniable quality that Harkila have no hesitation in labelling the premium clothing offered throughout their extensive range. Initial inspection showed fine workmanship and materials along with good, if generous fit. Both jacket and trousers feature a soft comfortable ̀ woodland` liner coupled to a more durable Gore-Tex performance shell with a texture, if not weight, similar to cordura. When moving around, all the fabrics remained quiet and the cut of the trousers although a little slimmer was high backed and still allowed generous flexibility in the legs. Belt loops and buttons for braces are featured. Hip, thigh and rear pockets are generous without being cumbersome and along with snow tabs in the legs, round off a very good bottom half. The Jacket shows a removable hood with useful adjustment cord to fit it to whatever hat you choose to wear without it falling too far over your face. Cuffs at the hem and wrists allow a snug fit, but generous enough in arm and torso length to not ride up if prone. For extra visibility, the upper arms have zipped pockets containing orange high-viz `signal bands` and along with lined game pocket at the rear, we have chest pockets, internal valuable pockets and large cartridge/gloved hand pockets at the waist/hip. Both chest pockets contain a little strap that holds the cartridge pockets open for fast access and the upper chest radio pocket has a radio antenna clip. A dual direction zip, with poppered cover flap offers total wind and water resistance from chin to pelvis. Items of these prices have to offer excellent weather resistance, warmth and comfort; every element of their construction must be rugged and hardwearing. The suit comes with a 5-year warranty guaranteeing materials and craftsmanship and this latter term is illustrated in some of the finer details such as the well-tailored fit, seams aligned to perfection, a distinct lack of uneven folds or bulk and features such as underarm ventilation slots that when either zipped or open, lie perfectly flat causing no discomfort. 40 degree gentle wash is recommended for cleaning. My first outing in the suit was on a bitterly cold windy day and the jacket not only withstood the elements but exuded a refined feel and look. Offering easy movement in the prone position, the hood was just right for covering the scope without billowing in the wind itself and the collar didn’t interfere with head position on the stock. Lengthy cut in the body and high back trousers remained well sealed from the elements. Yes it is expensive but so is a suit from Saville row and this is an item I enjoy wearing every time as it feels so light and un-cumbersome yet ignores the weather, allows as much layering as is required to combat temperature and not feeling humid internally. I spent an afternoon in horrendous weather at Diggle in the full suit and emerged tired and facially wind-blown yet dry as a bone.

Jacket £399.99. Trousers £229.99. Simon Esnouf 07887 997788. www.seeland.com

49


A hood that will cover a scope’s objective like the Harkila’s whilst keeping the head warm and dry are mandatory.

Adjustable cuffs and hem meant even prone, the jacket didnt ride up.

50


Harkila ProHunter GTX

12 boots are great for

cold days and become

‘high leg slippers’

over time.

51


Footwear choice is a personal matter. I personally hate to be hot in my clothes but I don’t like cold feet. The boots on test here are models again designed for the hunting market but I believe have equal benefit to any outdoor activity requiring waterproof, warm feet. Harkila’s Pro Hunter GTX boot is described as an all season boot, so Jack-of-all-trades? Available in 7.5, 10 and 12” heights in standard format, along with specialised variants with Kevlar reinforcement and an XL insulated model for extreme cold. With a Vibram outsole, the high leg of the boot shouts out hard walking and ankle support but I was assured of a 100% waterproof guarantee from the Gore-Tex membrane laminated to 4 other layers for protection, insulation and padding. The construction here is advertised to be 25% more breathable than equivalent boots and as I wore them from February onwards this year, they have certainly tested warm, cold, wet and dry weather. They aren’t the kind of boot you will hop in and out of without a few days of wearing in, the multilayered construction softened where it needed to and walking, which with a 12” boot initially seemed stiff soon became comfortable and confidence inspiring. The `all-season` rating was spot on and space for my toes never seemed to mean a slipping heel so no blisters. The sole is quite stiff but grip was effective on all but ice. The rubber rand rising from the sole has stayed firmly adhered to both upper and lower surfaces and even deep peaty soil has failed to mark the subtle 2.4mm dark brown leather. I would describe fit as generous but `give` in the fit is minimal with `wear in` time and I now wear these boots with great confidence.

Harkila Prohunter Boots

Harkila Prohunter GTX 12” boot £259.99. www.seeland.com Simon Esnouf 07887 997788

52


Wet and muddy on the outside but very cosy on the inside, Deerhunter’s Ram was the kit to beat.

(Top) Although the scope was shielded, the Ram hood was a lit-tle too baggy. (Bottom) Trousers rising up to kidney level coupled with the long jacket cut made shooting prone problem free.

Deerhunter Ram

53


Firstly, don’t be put off by pictures of camouflage, it isn’t to everyone’s taste and most clothing brands, especially those originating from Europe offer plain colours on an olive or green theme. Deerhunter’s Ram jacket and trousers form a medium weight suit which is comfortable to wear all year round. Being dull olive in colour it has a subtle appearance highlighted in critical zones by Hitena sections that will combat more aggressive wear and tear at the hems, cuffs and elbows. Featuring the Deer-Tex membrane the jacket is fully waterproof, windproof and breathable with an assortment of pockets both large and small for hands, radios or other general accessories. A rolled up hood stores in the collar and at the rear of the long jacket, an internal removable padded section will effectively fold out to make a waterproof seat, insulating you from the ground. The trousers feature a high waistband to cut out any leaky draughts and the length of cut on the jacket ensures that when laid prone there is no gap into which the weather can intrude. Hip, thigh and normal front pockets are combined with a knife pocket which in our case doubles as a very handy spot to store your rifle’s bolt! Velcro cuffs on the jacket and hems on the trousers allow ankles and wrists to be tightly snugged in if desired and an ingenious internal elasticated web inside the jacket at hip level can be fasted around your mid-section to make even a following wind from behind unable to flow up inside. A large `game` pocket across the full width of the small of your back is a great spot to store a carefully folded fleece to further layer the suit, just in case it gets even colder. The usual style of two way zipper runs all the way up to a high collar that will button closed and when combined with the draw string on the hood will cocoon you against the worst the heavens can throw at you. The hood is large enough when opened out that it will easily cover the rear of a riflescope’s objective to minimise water drops settling on your image and if you do need to carry a gun on a sling, rubber reinforcements on the shoulders provide a non slip gripper. The trousers show the expected belt loops which are wide enough for webbing style belts but I believe the greatest shooters clothing accessory to be a good pair of braces! The whole setup is machine washable and I own a camouflage set that show little wear and tear after 4 years of use. When it is really wet the outer fabric layer can retain a small amount of water but it doesn’t soak through the deertex membrane to your skin and breathability in occasional warmer conditions was excellent even when physical exertion caused a rise in body temperature. A small point to the target shooter which is of great importance to the hunters this kind of outfit is designed for is that it is very quiet in use with all buttons being soft silicone and a fabric that didn’t tend to `swish-swash` as you walked. One criticism is that the zipper which sits under a secondary buttoned up cover can be a little fiddly and tended to snag if not operated very gently when starting it off. Underarm zippers allow ventilation flexibility and I cannot think of an item or feature this jacket does not offer but all in a well-designed package.

Ram Jacket £194.99. Trousers £99.99. www.teamwildoutfitters.com

Deerhunter Ram

54


Quite `techy` syling made the Gotland distinctive, a great

lightweight suit.

Deerhunter Gotland

Velcro side straps allowed the jacket to be cinched in

but a shorter cut allowed a little rain leakage.

55


For our changeable, unpredictable climate, the first item of clothing we may seek out is a lightweight, easily stored suit that will protect us from showers with some wind stopping ability. Deerhunter’s Gotland suit was intended for dog walkers but its build is actually rather perfect for those who like to pack light and/or layer their clothing. The Deertex membrane offered by this company is present on many items in their range and for good reason; it works well repelling water, wind and allowing good levels of breathability. At first appearance the Gotland suit looks a little bit `techy` and is very modern with darker green sections punctuated by black areas at the elbows, knees etc. and rather wetsuit like rubberised zippers on the pockets. I have to say I really liked the look of this kit and it was great to fold up and pack into my day sack knowing full well it would perform when needed. The fabric feels slightly rubbery in texture and exhibits `4-way` stretch to allow freedom of movement. This and the visibly fully taped internal seams look as if they will be humidity heaven but as long as they aren’t worn directly against the skin, I found the set very comfortable and rainwater formed distinct droplets on the materials surface before running off. The collar is fleece lined on the inside and along with a hood folding internally; it gives just enough comfort to beat the elements. Stretch at the hem of the trousers easily allows large boots to fit underneath, even bulky wellingtons locked in place by the Velcro fasteners. The jacket displays radio and waistline hand pockets with larger internal pockets, more are featured on the trousers in a distinctly asymmetric design which seems to have a nod directly towards style as the slim line, and lightweight cut doesn’t lend itself to storage of any heavy or bulky items. The suit shows only two downsides in my opinion in that the cut on the body of the jacket is a little short and combined with the standard waist of the trousers may ride up and expose lower spine when prone. The material is also a little noisy but that isn’t a real issue as we aren’t creeping around silently hunting quarry.

Gotland Jacket £187.99. Trousers £145.99. www.teamwildoutfitters.com

Deerhunter Gotland

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Diotto’s Auchleeks boots are a little firm for a targetshooter but very comfortable once broken it and VERY tough.

Diotto Auchleeks

57


Like the Harkilas, the Diotto boots have a very high leg which will seem inappropriate to the target shooter but I find when well-worn in, this kind of boot not only offers great support for the ankles, especially when standing for long periods in the Butts, but gives a level of insulation that is hard to beat. With them gripping the leg more than a lower boot, I tend to find I can afford a little more toe space and the ability to waggle them can offer comfort. Diotto are a premium Italian boot maker whose products are imported into this country by Swillington Shooting Supplies to their preferred designs and they certainly strike a slightly unconventional pose on first inspection. The external leather is finished in a kind of stippled effect that is very hard wearing with a high rubber rand attaching the Vibram sole to the upper. Designed to fend of tough conditions underfoot in cut forestry or very wet muddy conditions, I have given them a real battering and they are still perfect, every trip out adding to that `broken-in` comfort as they mould to the contours of my feet and lower leg. At first I found it impossible to drive in them but after 10 hours of wear they are flexible enough yet still firm. The most unusual feature is the tongue that folds in upon itself, overlapping rather than acting in the normal manner of a separate tongue. They are surprisingly easy to lace too as the speed loop studs are coated in an anti-corrosion product which combined with the stiffer leg, makes lashing them up easier. A “Wind-tex” membrane provides water and wind resistance with retained breathability and I have to admit I didn’t feel too keen on these boots at first but I wouldn’t swap them for anything now as they provide day long support and comfort with no wet sweaty feet and seem to ease tiredness when standing for long periods in the butts as you seem to be able to relax your ankles more. When I returned to a standard height boot on rough terrain I was constantly tripping over on my ankles and at this point the confidence given by a taller boot was strongly illustrated.

Swillington Shooting Supplies £210. www.swillingtonshootingsupplies.co.uk 0113 2864 097

Diotto Auchleeks

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The neoprene upper is very flexible and moulds to the calves comfortably without the need for a buckle.

Muck Boots Tay Sport

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Bitterly cold as last winter was, so far we have been spared this year but York Guns offer the Muck Boots, Tay Sport Extreme Cold weather variant. Designed for temperatures down to –47 degrees, they feature an extra 2mm of `Thermofoam` insulation on top of standard build features of a fleece covered internal `Airmesh` boot liner offering wicking comfort and large, well-spaced block cleats on a sole designed for cold slippery conditions. Alongside standard features of a rubber lower combined with neoprene foam upper, the toe and heel sections of the boot are well reinforced yet flexible and sit firmly on the foot. Available in full sizes from 4-13 at an attractive price, we find a pair of boots perhaps perfectly suited to those occasions when extreme cold or especially when stationary rather than walking? Sizing, although generous, does not make walking cumbersome but invites a second pair of socks. The neoprene upper is very flexible and moulds to the calves comfortably without the need for a buckle yet the formed rubber around the Achilles/heel section is snug and does not slip or rub. The boots were comfortable when worn all day, without question fully waterproof and warm and although not breathable, never became internally damp or humid thanks to the liner wicking moisture away. The sole provided good grip and enough flexibility in the sole allowed a good level of feel when walking. The slightly stippled texture of the rubber meant they took a little more washing but who wants clean looking Wellies? If it is particularly filthy underfoot, these are also the easiest form of footwear to step in and out of if venturing inside and although 1000 yards to butts and back a few times may get a little tiring, there is no doubt these are outdoor slippers for the 21st century.

£89.95. Contact York Guns - 01904 487185. www.yorkguns.com

Muck Boots Tay Sport

Conclusion... Although you might think some of this kit is designed only for the deerstalker or vermin shooter, you would be surprised how comfortable these items can make your day when you aren’t generating much body heat. I wouldn’t be without high leg boots now I have learned to love them. Much as I love the Harkila kit, I must admit it is a little expensive and its benefits are mostly very subtle and noticeable to those experiencing long periods of motion and activity with its tough wear resistant externals fending off brambles and such. The Ram suit perhaps offers the best compromise of performance versus price and I feel the Gotland, although stylish and comfortable is a little expensive for a lightweight waterproof to pack away for emergencies. I wouldn’t be without the Muck boots and it’s a real 50:50 between the Harkila and Auchleeks as they each have subtle character, perhaps the ProHunters winning by a whisker for the gentler terrain of a range. Applying to all items, I cannot stress enough to consider how you will layer further clothing

underneath to maximise performance so choose your sizing carefully.

Chris Parkin

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6262

Historic ArmsSay Hello to Mr Nock

Mike Davenport, shooter and historian, looks at another gunmaker who help shape our history and was the fore-runner of the still famous Wilkinson Sword brand.

A big surprise for Bickerstaff when, having cornered Sgt Major Harper in the film Sharps Rifles, finds a Nock volley gun pressed against his chest and an even bigger surprise when Harper cocks and fires it.

The idea for a ‘volley’ came from a Mr. James Wilson who appeared before the Board of Ordnance in July 1779 with ‘a newly invented gun with seven barrels to fire at one time’. It passed a test at Woolwich and was recommended for use on board ships to fire from the round tops. Henry Nock was given an order to make 655 guns at a total cost of £8,519 - roughly £13 each.The gun weighed 12lbs and was 3.5 feet long with barrels of .46 calibre and 20 inches long.

This order was to be the making of Nock who originally started out as a gun-lock maker. I suppose it might have been more appropriate if his name had been lock! Twenty guns were sent for trial on the Phoenix with Admiral Howe in 1782 to relieve Gibraltar. They were also issued to HMS Pandora when it was searching in the Pacific Ocean for the mutineers from the HMS Bounty in 1791.

The original charge of 2.5 drams of powder for each chamber was reduced to 1.5 drams when it was found

that the former charge was dislocating some shooter’s shoulders and there was a danger of the heavy recoil unbalancing a marine while shooting from the round tops. Even so, the total charge for the gun was still roughly 10.5 drams. There was also the risk of fire to the sails and Nelson was said to have discouraged this after he had lost several ships from musketry in the ship’s tops.

It is perhaps ironic that if the marines on Nelson’s ship had raked the tops of the French ship with Nocks gun, Nelson might have lived after Trafalgar. On the other hand, black-powder does cause a considerable flash and some sparks. I have personally managed on several occasions to set fire to the towel on the cross sticks with my Sharps and it was thought that the mission at Rorkes Drift was burnt down after sparks from a Martini Henry set fire to the roof.

Some seven barrelled guns were made by Nock for the civilian market and were used for wildfowling purposes. The same idea was taken up by my father Maurice Egerton Davenport who made a seven barrel goose gun in 22LR in the late 1930’s. Details of this are referred to in an article on the Imperial War Museum web site under his name. A brief cessation of hostilities caused Nock to start making some very fine sporting guns and pistols. He was also admitted as a freeman to the Gunmakers

Say Hello to Mr Nock

Mike Davenport FCA

6363

Historic ArmsSay Hello to Mr Nock

Company. In 1784 the Duke of Richmond was appointed to the post of Master General of the Ordnance. He was very interested in Nocks screw less lock and orders were placed for this new lock. It was intended to use these locks on a new design of musket named after the Duke of Richmond. This musket would be lighter and have a smaller calibre than the Brown Bess. Eventually this idea was scrapped and many of Nocks locks were sold off to the trade.

Nock was an extremely industrious gunsmith who was for ever improving his designs and inventing new guns. He designed a new breech plug which gave fire to the main charge quicker than the conventional design. In the design of his screwless lock, all the locks moving parts were covered and it was found later that many of these guns were in good working order after thirty-five years of service. He also designed a new double-barrelled pistol for the Royal Horse Artillery. This pistol had its left barrel rifled and the back trigger - which fired it - could be set. It also came with a detachable shoulder-stock and graduated sights. He made a considerable number of the 1796 pattern pistol, also brass barrelled pistols for the Navy and hundreds of brass canon locks. When the Royal Armouries needed jigs and gauges they would order them from Nock as the quality was better than any other manufacturer. He made improvements to the Ferguson breech-loading rifle and following this, made another design of breech-loader. This breech-loader was a much better design than the Ferguson rifle and had an action similar to the Westley Richards monkey-tail action. After unlocking the breech by pulling up a ringed pin the breech sleeve was raised vertically to take a paper cartridge. The ring on the hinged pin also doubled as a back sight. The removal of the pin put the gun on safe, so that loading could take place safely.

Had this been adopted, it would have predated the monkey-tail action by at least sixty years. If the gun had a rifled barrel it would have overcome the difficulties encountered when loading a muzzle loading rifle. The whole British Army could

have been armed with a quick loading rifle which would have shortened the Battle of Waterloo to a few minutes ensuring the transport of Napoleon to St Helena in record time! The main problem was the lack of money for a total rearming of the Army, the same problem that caused the end of the proposed Duke of Richmond’s musket with Nocks new screwless lock.

The name of Henry Nock is not remembered as well as some of the other gunmakers who catered for the rich and famous but, the quality of his guns were just as good and his output was much greater in terms of quantity and inventive ideas. Henry Nock died in 1804 at the age of 63. In his will he stipulated that his business was to be carried on for six months for the benefit of his employees. In fact the business continued to thrive and was carried on by his foreman and son in law, James Wilkinson. The business passed through successive members of the family and is better known today as Wilkinson Sword, having made swords for many years but now only making razor blades. Probably the last gun they were associated with was the excellent Wilkinson Webley model of 1905. They correctly anticipated further restrictions on the public ownership of firearms in the UK to supposedly make our streets safer!

The subject of neck-tension inevitably crops up in any serious discussion on reloading and accuracy but, does it really make a difference or are there other factors in play. After Richard and I had been discussing the matter, I invited him to put his theories to the test. Richard’s experiment makes for interesting reading for any accuracy nut – Ed.

Ever since reloading 22 Hornet, I’ve felt that neck-tension uniformity was crucial to accuracy.As time has gone by, I have moved away from reloading presses that can crush girders and use only a hand press now as it gives really good feedback as to the seating force needed. I anneal my brass regularly and go so far as to move any bullet that feels a bit different to a separate batch used only for close-range shooting. Keeping neck-tensions uniform certainly has the benefit that seating-depth becomes more consistent and saves one time having to readjust the seating die to get the depth just right ie. sticky necks

could lead to the bullet sitting a few thou long and then a really smooth neck will lead to the bullet going in a bit too far.

In a world where we tune every single tiny variable out of the equation in a bid to get the very best from our rifles, the serious rifleman has to appreciate that the brass is quite changeable and must be carefully monitored throughout its life. Sometimes after a good few firings, the load just doesn’t feel quite as sharp as it used to and the decision is made to replace the brass. I’ve tested various ‘hunches’ over the years and can say categorically that annealed brass shoots significantly

better (more consistently) than really work-hardened brass. Sometimes new brass can halve your group size over really worn-out brass. I’ve seen this enough times to not doubt it and it’s simple to prove but whether totally identical neck-tensions make a discernible difference over bullets that were just a little harder or softer to seat... well that is not so straightforward!

I certainly feel that it is quite a big thing but some highly reputable precision riflemen think that the combustion gas blows the neck open in a fraction of a second, whatever few percent of variation there may be in the neck tension on the bullet.

That would appear to be logical, sure but, you might also think that seating a bullet a twentieth of a millimetre closer to the lands wouldn’t possibly make a difference either but clearly seating-depth is proven to be a massive and sensitive factor in accuracy and consistency.

So, there’s no room for ‘feel’ here; to know for sure we need to measure seating forces and compare them to the consistency of fps over the chrony. So, I sought to test whether rounds made with uneven neck-tensions would shoot less accurately or consistently than ones

By Richard UttingNECK-TENSION – does it matter?

64

Neck-tension – does it matter?Richard Utting

that are totally uniform. I wished also to ascertain which seating-force is optimal in my rifle - if it matters. I tested this by shooting a load in my 284 Win. using uniformly-made rounds, batched by seating force, then repeating with all factors identical except uneven seating force.

Brian Fox at Fox Firearms kindly lent me a clever piece of kit here to remove my ‘feel of seating force from the equation and give some actual readings – namely a K&M arbor press with a seating-force dial indicator on the top. This records how much downward force is used. It is now straightforward to standardise the force used in seating the bullets.

My thoughts were that the best batched bullets would have lower ES than the unbatched ones. These differences will be nowhere near as large as the difference between worn brass and new or between badly work-hardened brass and freshly annealed but I still postulated that the difference would be worthwhile. The chronograph would record the fps consistency as this may actually be more telling than the accuracy as I was unable to perform this test at ultra long ranges where a few fps spread makes a big difference to the vertical.

Firstly, some thoughts on the K&M arbor press. I’ve never been tempted to go down the arbor press route

until now. I am convinced that the runout on good ‘normal’ seating dies is just as good, so have not

been tempted. There is however, an enormous plus point for the arbor presses – because they are self-contained they are portable. You can take them off to the range and fine tune your seating there. They are pleasing and fast to use and I can see the attraction.

I still never bought one because I discovered the wonderful Lee hand press. It is an inexpensive

press that you use hand-held, no bench required. It gives seriously nice feedback to the user as to what

force is needed and can really help standardise brass-sizing and seating, plus of course the advantages of being portable and ready for the range. One can also reload in front of the telly, out in the sunshine etc.

The K&M arbor offers more though. Now you have the advantages of the hand press but with the ability to actually measure the force used to seat a bullet.

NECK-TENSION – does it matter?

I shall certainly be testing my future loads by seating

force and Brian Fox isn’t getting this K&M arbor

press back!

65


As sensitive as the feel is when using a hand press, this is more precise, no doubt about it.

Interestingly, with brand new brass, I felt the force of the seating was ‘spikey’, very high and hard to measure. After a firing and an annealing, the brass is much much smoother. The bullet starts sliding in at about 250 on the dial and then toward the end a little more force is required to finish off – about 262 being normal. I’ve long said that ‘new’ is not a repeatable condition but ‘annealed’ is...

Other bullets would start seating at 250 ish but then need up to 270 to go fully home.

Interestingly, as the shot count increased on the brass, the average seating force went up, generally starting moving into the case at 265 and finishing at 290. Those cases needing more than 320 were culled.

As a quick preliminary test, I took a batch of completely even rounds in the 260-265 batch (the most common ones after the brass was annealed) and tried them in the field; a quick group at 1150 yards showed essentially no vertical and three shots over the chrony read thus: 3147, 3148, 3147. I’m used to perhaps 10 fps total spread by being very careful with my hand press as above but this was a new standard.

Would there be a tangible gain in accuracy though? Clearly standardising neck-tension will give less spread and therefore less vertical stringing at range. Manic reloaders will strive to do every last little thing that they can but at what point does chasing tiny variations in neck-tension become an exercise in diminishing returns for the normal shooter?

My thoughts would be that annealing is a must (especially in cases where there is a lot of case/chamber clearance, which works the brass much more) as the variations when the brass is hardened and brittle can be enormous and accuracy suffers visibly even at close ranges. Next step might be culling extremes

when seating. Best result is using the K&M arbor press with the force dial indicator and keeping identical batches, perhaps having tested which seating forces reveal the best accuracy in your rifle. Well, out I went into the range field to find out...

The results were interesting: The first thing of note in my particular rifle is that the lower seating forces (260-265 batch) which is produced by freshly annealed brass, give bughole accuracy and a five shot extreme spread of 29, average speed 3126 fps

270 gave av. 3111 fps and ES 32

275 gave av. 3108 fps and ES of 25



I only had 2 x 290. 290 gave 3095 3115 – av. 3105 fps ES of 20



305 gave 1 shot at 3140



I then mixed them all up and shot 9 shots. This gave an av. of

3107 fps and ES of 71.

66


So it looks like ES is indeed best if you shoot rounds batched into similar seating forces, various batches giving figures around 30fps spread. The string with the seating forces unmonitored (ie a normal load with the same brass, powder, bullet and seating in the normal manner) gives 71fps spread, at least 2x the ES... What was very interesting and surprising in my rifle - this load being very close to the top of its accuracy and pressure window - is that it bug-holed at the low end (260/265) and

showed no stamping but everything over 275 fps was too hot as the seating forces increased, even if the fps was not much higher if at all.

Whilst this load is fussy and currently fairly unremarkable as described above and will be tweaked to lower ES back to its previous levels (how new rifles change as they run in!) it is still clear that batching your rounds by seating force and testing them at the range should reveal a preference in your rifle. You can then repeat that condition by altering your neck-tensions during sizing (different bushings, neck turning etc) or by annealing at a certain number of firings (seating force needed seems to increase fairly steadily with each firing of the brass).

In this instance, these results would lead me to anneal every firing as opposed to on my normal third firing as I know that if I keep the brass soft and the seating forces down below 265 that I will have no pressure problems and much better accuracy. I may of course reduce my charge to get more stability in this load but that wasn’t the purpose of this test and won’t be explored further here. I will also be reworking much of this due to a big HBN bullet coating trial I’m doing next.

The increase in pressure seems clear as the seating force rises but, it is not evenly linear and nor is the fps. What is clear is that my load prefers one particular area and repeating that will increase my accuracy. It is clear that mixed rounds, unsorted by seating force, show a higher ES than the batched rounds.

This is useful. It isn’t the basics of a good load but it

certainly might help polish a good load into a great load.

I shall certainly be testing my future loads by seating force

and Brian Fox isn’t getting this K&M arbor press back!

67


ELEY Open New USA Test RangeToday, ELEY opens a brand new state of the

art test facility in Winters, Texas . The range

was opened by triple Olympic Medal winner

Matt Emmons and 2012 Gold Medal winner

Jamie Gray.

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Latest News...LATESTNEWS...

The range opening drew in quite a crowd including NRA’s Chip Lohman, Corrie West of USA Shooting, Shilen Barrels, Stiller’s Precision Firearms, benchrest shooters, local press and five Olympic shooters including, Lones Wigger (Gold & Medal winner 1964 and Gold Medal winner 1972) , Jamie Gray (2012 Gold Medal winner), Matt Emmons (Gold 2004, Silver 2008 ,Bronze 2012) and husband and wife team Sandra and Eric Uptagrafft.

ELEY have had an absolutely fantastic year on the 22 RF world circuit, 14 out of 18 22 London 2012 Olympic medals were won with ELEY ammunition including 5 of the 6 Golds. The ammunition used to win these Olympic medals isn’t just ‘off the shelf’ Tenex. The world’s elite understand that there are thousands of variables when shooting and to ensure you get the best chance to win you have to batch test your rifle or pistol.

ELEY Open New USA Test Range. Continued...

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LATESTNEWS...

Batch testing used to be limited to the UK, at ELEY’s Head Office. Due to the consistency and accuracy of ELEY Tenex, demand has grown for batch testing. Earlier this year, ELEY opened their second range in Stuttgart Germany and now the third in Texas USA. The facility has the ability to test both 22RF rifles and pistols with electronic target systems and unique analysing software. All three ranges have two 50 metre lanes ideal for testing 22RF rifles and Free pistols. The US and German ranges also have the ability to test Free pistols and Rapid Fire pistols at 25m.

ELEY have always been a loyal supporter of the USA 22RF shooter, sponsoring NRA Events, benchrest and USA Shooting, the national governing body for sports shooting. Increasing that support, ELEY has made a significant investment building this two-lane test


70


facility in the USA. ELEY knew several years ago that they wanted to build a test range in the USA but the demand for Tenex over the past four years has been so great that stocking any additional range would be problematic. In two years, ELEY have spent over a million pounds on continuous development to increase production, allowing them to support these two additional ranges with high quality product.

The new USA test facility allows all 22RF shooters whether you’re a benchrest enthusiast, pistol or rifle shooter to test their firearm with ELEY Tenex. The range is located at Killough Sports, Winters -Texas, this is only a three hour drive from Dallas or a connecting flight into Abilene. The Killoughs have been a loyal supplier of ELEY ammunition for many years, their expertise, knowledge and friendly hospitality mean any shooter who comes to test will have a great experience.

“To see this come to fruition is very exciting,” he said. “It shows the level of support and dedication that Eley has as a partner of USA Shooting. I expect this will create a huge advantage for our team and our abilities to diligently do the testing that is required being an elite-level shooter.” - Eric Uptagrafft.“It’s good to have a test-range of this caliber in the United States because it makes it easier for us, I mean people from the U.S. who are into this sport, to get out and test-fire more often. It’s easier for us to bring our guns to Texas than take them overseas, especially in England.” - Jamie Gray.


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LATESTNEWS...

In our November issue, we ran an article written by a young American lady, Victoria Shockley, outlining her first steps in shooting and now we have another on the same theme but this time from a proud father, John Hammond. If you have a similar story, we’d love to hear it. Youngsters are the future of our sport but usually it appeals to boys rather than girls but, in my experience, girls make great shooters.

Having read your article on female shooters I thought I would share my story with you. I shoot F Class with my local club The Dorset Riflemen, many of whom take part in the national F Class League. My 14 year old daughter, Bryony-Mai asked if she could have a go at shooting one day, so off to another club I’m a member of - Christchurch Gun Club - on guest day and let her have a go with a Ruger 10/22. Hooked!

During the Olympics, she remarked she’d like to have a go at smallbore target shooting so, after a quick web search, I came up with Bournemouth Small Bore Rifle & Pistol club. We met up with the club coach and she has now started shooting small bore prone. Her best score with all the correct gear, jacket, sling etc. was a 91 first time out with a club rifle. I now have an Anschutz 2013 for her to use and she has shot her best of 95 after just one month of owning the rifle. I am a very proud father.

We at Target Shooter have closely followed the protracted battle for the Anzac Rifle Range and we are most pleased to reproduce the following letter from the Chairman of the NSWRA John Fitzgerald.

THE NEW SOUTH WALES RIFLE ASSOCIATION IncESTABLISHED 1860

12 December 2012.

IMPORTANT NEWS RELEASE REGARDING COURT PROCEEDINGS:- “NSWRA Vs COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA” ANZAC RIFLE RANGE.

Commonwealth’s Appeal against the judgement handed down in the NSW Supreme Court of White J dated 20 July 2012.

This morning in the NSW Court of Appeal we appeared for directions in the Commonwealths Appeal against the above judgement. I quote from notice just received from Mary Morrisroe, Lawyer (Hunt&Hunt) who appeared on our behalf.

“This morning I appeared on behalf of NSWRA before Registrar Riznyczol in the Court of Appeal. Ms Boomer appeared on behalf of the Commonwealth.Ms Boomer was granted leave to file a notice of discontinuance in Court. The effect of the notice of discontinuance is that the Commonwealth has advised the Court that it does not intend to continue with the appeal. The proceedings have come to an end”.

THIS IS FANTASTIC NEWS AND A SIGNIFICANT VICTORY FOR NSWRA!

The Commonwealth has also agreed to settle costs awarded to NSWRA for the sum of $420,000-00. Whilst this amount falls far short of what we actually incurred in mounting our legal challenge, it is in fact reasonable in consideration that costs awarded on a party/party basis returns generally 60% to 70% to the successful litigant of what was actually spent in the process.

All in all, and I consider an understatement when saying we have come out of this with a great win for justice and a secure future for NSWRA!

We are at Anzac Rifle Range under the Terms of our License “until relocated to a suitable range” with the full legal ramifications of the NSW Supreme Court.

Accordingly I can now wish everyone “ A MOST MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH A BRIGHT LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL FOR 2013” without the threat of our sport suffering the severe blow of termination at Anzac hanging over our heads.

Anzac Rifle Range Latest news...

Young Women in Shooting Sports

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Young Women in Shooting Sports

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http://www.benchrest22.org

Disabled Shooting ProjectWhat the Future Holds

Thanks to Sport England and UK Sport, disabled target shooting will be celebrating even more than usual over this festive season!

On 17th December everyone involved with the Disabled Shooting Project was over the moon to hear that Sport England has increased British Shooting’s funding for 2013-17, and that includes continued support for the DSP. The following day, UK Sport announced a big increase in its funding for Disability Target Shooting GB. Building on the medal successes of Matt Skelhon and James Bevis in the 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games, this will allow even better preparation of athletes for Rio 2016.

What a difference 12 months makes! In December 2011 the DSP had guaranteed funding for just 16 months’ work. Our feeling then was “so much to accomplish, so little time”. The top priority was the Disabled Shooting Year, which needed to be linked to the London Paralympics if it was to achieve its objectives. It was timed to end on 31st March 2013 – the last day of that 16 months’ funding. The question was whether we could achieve enough to convince everyone that another four years’ funding would be a good investment. We are overwhelmingly grateful to Sport England for deciding that it will.

After the partying finishes we have to put together plans for the next four years. We will be aiming to build on what is being achieved during the Disabled Shooting Year. On top of that there will be a number of new initiatives to roll out over the longer time-scale now available to us. Below, in broad-brush terms, are the main areas of activity that will be covered by our plans. If anyone has any good ideas or suggestions, we would be delighted to hear about them.

Shooting VenuesMany clubs and shooting grounds have told us that they want to improve or develop their facilities so that they can cater for shooters with disabilities and, for a wider range of disabilities. Their aspirations range from fairly basic things like disabled toilets and wheelchair ramps, through to building regional centres of excellence. Naturally, we will be continuing to do as much as we can to help and encourage everyone involved. It would be fantastic to see some regional centres up and running by 2017.

Focus ClubsThis scheme will be running by the end of the Disabled Shooting Year. We are looking forward to certificating clubs and grounds that can demonstrate disabled friendliness and accessibility. The aim is to ensure that the increasing numbers of people with disabilities who are interested in joining the sport can go to places that can cater properly for them.

TrainingIn 2013 we expect to be rolling out training opportunities for coaches and shooters’ assistants, as well as promoting disability awareness wherever it is needed. To help people take part in the training, we’ll continue to spread the word about the grants that are available to cover the cost.

CompetitionsOn the domestic front, it would be great to have more competitions that are fully open to disabled shooters. ‘Integration’ is the key word here. Internationally, we would like to see more opportunities opened up for

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shooters who are outside the IPC rules because they do non-Paralympic disciplines, and/or their disabilities do not meet IPC classification criteria.

Promotion and RecruitmentThere are lots of ideas under this heading. We are already working with a number of disability sport or support bodies whose members are active in the sport; over the next four years we would like to establish working relationships with quite a few more of them. Major events like the British Shooting Show, National Shooting Week, and perhaps an annual Disabled Shooting Week will be important for raising the profile of disabled shooting. Achieving more media awareness and coverage is another aspiration.

That all adds up to a large agenda. With continuing help and support from those who have backed the DSP so far, we can achieve a huge amount by 31st March 2017.

Forthcoming Events

DSP Regional ConferencesThe dates and venues for six conferences in the first quarter of 2013 will be announced shortly. These are aimed at people, clubs and shooting grounds interested in any aspect of developing, improving or supporting disabled shooting. We hope that they will provide much inspiration, help and encouragement. Please look out for news on our website, Facebook or Twitter.

British Shooting Show 9/10 February 2013, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.The organisers have confirmed that the 2013 show will promote disabled target shooting and, there are plans for special events and activities within the show. www.shootingshow.co.uk

National Shooting Week25 May – 2 June 2013, nation-wideCountryside Alliance has approached the DSP about increasing disabled participation in 2013, and we will be exploring possibilities with them. We are delighted that they are inviting a number of people involved in disabled target shooting to the launch event in London. It would be wonderful to see more disabled-friendly clubs putting on events during National Shooting Week, thus taking advantage of a great deal of free publicity. www.nationalshootingweek.co.uk

Ability Sport & Active Lifestyle 20/21 April 2013, Loughborough UniversityThe DSP hopes to have a presence at this event, which will showcase various disability sports with have-a-go sessions, workshops, etc. www.asaal.org.uk

Awards for Disabled Shooters/CoachesIt is great when the effort put in by those who have done years of voluntary work is recognised. Recently

Disabled Shooting continued...

Arthur Wood

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two people who not only shoot but also do a lot more for target shooting have received sports awards. Swansea Rifle Club’s coach and ‘man of all work’ received the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year

Unsung Hero Award, recognising 20 years of unstinting voluntary service to the club. This meant that Arthur went forward as the Welsh candidate for the BBC’s UK SPOTY awards on 16th December. A full report on Arthur’s award, including footage of him at the club, is at www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/wales/20512961.

The long-serving airgun coach at SportsAble (formerly WAMDSAD) in Maidenhead has received the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead’s Sports Lifetime Achievement Award for 2012. The DSP is working with Alan and his colleagues at SportsAble on various plans for further development and promotion of disabled target shooting at the club.

The award was another landmark in an excellent year for Alan; during the Paralympics he was following closely the progress of Georgina Callingham, who he coached when she joined SportsAble at the age of 13 and took up target shooting. At the EFDS Nationwide Disability Sports Awards in December the whole club received one of the inaugural EFDS Star Club Awards; a magnificent achievement. More details about these and other awards can be found in the News section on www.sportsable.co.uk .

Disabled Shooting continued...

More information:Disabled Shooting Project: www.disabledshooting.org.uk

International Paralympic Committee, Shooting: www.ipc-shooting.org

International Blind Sport Federation, Shooting: www.ibsa.es/eng/deportes/shooting/presentacionInternational Shooting Competition, Hannover: www.i-s-c-h.de

Clay Target Grand Prix, Lonato: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFKzJ7ZfQzM

British Blind Sport: www.britishblindsport.org.ukInternational Blind Sport Association (Shooting): NSRA: www.nsra.co.ukDisabled shooting content in NRA Journal, Pull!, The Rifleman, and Target Shooteris available on the Downloads section of the DSP website.

Alan Kenny

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THE QUIGLEY SHOOTING ASSOCIATION

December Quigley and a new Quigley ChampionCursed, as we were this season with unfavourable weather, the worst conditions were saved for our final shoot of the year.

First, the access road to the range had to be heavily salted to soften the ice and then we had to wait for the fog to lift enough to rig for the competition. In the morning the lack of wind meant that the ground fog slowly rolled downhill into the village, finally allowing us to start the comp.

Unfortunately, a previous snowfall had left the backstop with a disrupted pattern of white and dark patches, which perfectly matched our irregular shaped target, making probably the most difficult sight picture so far.

Stage 1 at 400yds was fired at the unforgiving bucket target which scores 5 points per hit, with only one point for the nearest of misses. The details had to be periodically stopped whilst the fog cleared from the targets allowing the barrels to cool and cause the odd flyer. The stage completed, we retired for lunch with Steve Maris in the lead with 43 points and Eric Todd and Paul Seymour on 35 and 34 points respectively.

After a short lunch break the firers, half reluctantly, re-emerged for the 600yds stage, which promised to be more of a challenge and so it was. A breeze sprung up which had the effect of reversing the direction of the fog and slowly shifting it back up the hill towards the range, also, the changing light making the buffalo target even more difficult to see and hit. Richard Healey overcame the conditions to shoot a magnificent score of 53 points with Paul Seymour closest to him with 39 points. Unfortunately, the weather closed in on us bringing freezing rain and making the targets impossible to see and so the final detail was abandoned with still a few firers unfinished.

Back into the clubhouse for a warm drink and a rapid tally to determine today’s winner and the season’s Champion shot. Richard

Healey won today’s comp with a score of 74 points, with Paul Seymour as close runner-up with 73 points.

The QSA Championship is based on a firers best 3 scores, this gives all members a good chance to win, allowing you to drop your worst scores, or to miss a couple of shoots without forfeit. When the arithmetic was completed, the championship went thus...

1st Richard Healey 2382nd Dave Simmons 2303rd Ian Hull 2284th Steve Maris 2255th Paul Seymour 215

Each year, the shooter who achieves the highest score on Stage 1 is awarded the ‘Quigley Bucket’. The shooter with the highest score on Stage 2 wins the ‘Quigley Buffalo Trophy’, both unique trophies hand crafted by our own Doug Herod.

This year, Steve Maris takes home the Bucket trophy, and Richard Healey the Buffalo trophy. A fitting end to the Season which has seen average scores drop off due to weather conditions and the first competition having to be cancelled but next year... who knows?

Comments and questions as always [email protected]

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Powder Lot Variations: A Case Study with H4831 – Hodgdon Extreme

Elya R. Courtney¹ And Michael W. Courtney²¹BTG Research,P.O. Box 62541,Colorado Springs, CO, 80962

²United States Air Force Academy,2354 Fairchild Drive,USAF Academy, CO, [email protected]

Target Shooter magazine is proud to reproduce this article, submitted to us by the authors. Yes, we did question the ethics of running such an article as it only addresses one manufacturer’s powder and we are always anxious to present both sides to any claim.

I suggested the authors at least contact Hodgdon, which they did and Hodgdon’s Ron Reiber pointed out some perceived flaws but, after reviewing their data, the authors are happy with their findings. Of course, we invite Hodgdon to respond if they feel inclined to do so – indeed, we hope they will, as research such as this is of value to all serious shooters. Like many competition shooters, I have personally experienced ‘variations’ in powder supplied by manufacturers other than Hodgdon and, when we are running our competition loads ‘close to the edge’, such variations can prove significant. It is essential that all hand-loaders are fully aware of such potential variations - Ed.

AbstractSmall arms propellant manufacturer Hodgdon claims that rifle powders in its Extreme line have small

velocity variations with both temperature changes and lot number. This paper reports on the variations in average velocity for six different lots of Hodgdon Extreme H4831 tested in .25-06 and .300 Winchester Magnum loads. Compared to the lot with the slowest average velocity, the other five lots of powder had higher average velocities ranging from 11.9 ft/s faster up to 111.9 ft/s faster in the .25-06 and from 13.6 ft/s faster to 111.1 ft/s in the .300 Win Mag. The mean velocity differences between lots are highly correlated between the two cartridges with a correlation coefficient of 0.96. This high correlation supports the idea that the experimental results reported here depend much more strongly on differences in the lots of powder rather than other details of the experiment such as the choice of primers, brass, bullets, and specifications of the rifle bore. The lot to lot variations in velocity seem higher than one might expect from Hodgdon’s marketing claims.

Key Words: bullet velocity internal ballistics, variation, powder lot, nitrocellulose

IntroductionThe Hodgdon Extreme line of powders has long been a top choice of long range match shooters and long range hunters, in large part due to its marketing claims regarding smaller temperature variations than other brands and small lot to lot performance variations. (Hodgdon 2012a)

Hodgdon goes through painstaking measures to ensure that all powder is consistent from lot to lot. And while the casual user may never notice, you certainly will. No matter when you purchase Hodgdon powder, you can feel confident that the performance you receive from one lot will match that of another.

The reloading benches at BTG Research pay homage to the Hodgdon Extreme line of powders, with exactly one canister of a powder made by another company (Alliant Blue Dot). We decided years ago to stick with the Hodgdon Extreme line of powders due to their advertised claims of small velocity variations with temperature and lot number. However, over the years we noticed more significant variations than one might expect from Hodgdon marketing claims.

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One powder from the Hodgdon Extreme line (H1000) is known to be in current use in a military cartridge (the .300 Win Mag) and the detailed specifications require only one lot of powder be used in any lot of ammunition. (Endris, 2009) The specifications also require a maximal velocity variation of 75 ft/s across the required temperature range (-20 F to 165 F). Since sniper and counter sniper engagement distances beyond 1000 yards have become more common in the Afghanistan conflict, several NATO nations have moved to cartridges with higher powder capacities such as the .300 Win Mag and the .338 Lapua Magnum. (Endris, 2009; Webb, 2007) Other high-capacity cartridges such as the .338 Norma Magnum have been suggested as a longer range machine gun cartridge (Steimke, 2012), and lighter recoiling cartridges similar to the 6.5x284 Norma will probably be considered by units with counter snipers of smaller stature for applications beyond 1000 yards.

Potential longer range cartridges are all considered to be “overbore” in that they employ a larger volume of slower burning powders than earlier generations of cartridges including the 7.62 mm NATO, the 5.56 mm NATO, and the 7.62x39 mm. Long range applications also require smaller variations in muzzle velocity from shot to shot, with variations in ambient temperature, with variations in barrel temperature, and with variations in the lot number of components. Due to their marketing claims, their reputation among long range target shooters, and the selection of a Hodgdon Extreme powder in the .300 Win Mag sniper load (Endris, 2009), Hodgdon Extreme powders with slower burning rates are natural choices to consider in long range applications. These slower burning powders in the extreme line include H4350, H4831, H1000, and Retumbo.

Unsatisfied with current temperature testing methods, the authors have talked quite a bit about how to carry out a convincing experiment to test velocity variations over temperature but decided to start with an experiment testing velocity variations over different lots of powders, because the experiment is more straightforward and has fewer potential confounding factors. For example, when testing effects of temperature variations, the temperature differences

might affect neck tension, primer performance or barrel friction, any of which could create velocity variations independently of the powder dependence on temperature. In contrast, in an experiment testing velocity variations with lot number, other factors can be held constant.

MethodPowder was acquired from six different lots of H4831, designated A-F, and allowed to acclimate in the same storage area for over a year. All six lots were kept in their original canisters and opened briefly from time to time. The temperature at which the powder was stored varied seasonally from 55 F in the winter to nearly 70 F in the summer. The relative humidity varied from 25% to 50%. Ten rounds were loaded with each of the six powders in 25-06 and .300 Win Mag (60 rounds total in each cartridge). The .25-06 rounds were loaded in R-P brass using a Fed 210M primer, 52 grains of powder, and a 115 grain Berger VLD bullet. The .300 Win Mag loads were loaded in Nosler brass using a Fed 210M primer, a 155 grain AMAX bullet, and 79 grains of powder. Power was carefully weighed by hand to a precision of 0.02 grains on a digital scale. Brass preparation method included cleaning in stainless tumbling media, reaming the primer pockets, and chamfering the flash hole and case neck with appropriate tools. Cleaning brass in stainless tumbling media is important to consistency. For example, we have noticed an increase in case capacity averaging close to 1 grain of water after cleaning previously fired .300 Win Mag cases. In addition to the ten rounds with each lot of powder, ten warm-up rounds were prepared with one of the powder lots.

The two test rifles were a factory Savage 110 BA in .300 Win Mag and a Remington 700 Sendero in .25-06. Before the experiment, the rifle barrels were cleaned thoroughly with our standard laboratory procedure. Velocities were measured with a CED Millenium chronograph with LED sky screens. Previous work has shown that the accuracy of these chronographs is about 0.3%. Four of the warm-up shots were fired to condition the bore and warm the barrel. Then one

Powder Lot Variations: A Case Study with H4831 – Hodgdon Extreme. Continued.

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shot was fired from each lot of powder in sequence to interleave the lots of powder as the sixty shots were fired. Data was recorded in a field notebook for later entry into a spreadsheet for analysis. Interleaving the shots prevented confounding effects from barrel friction and barrel temperature changing in time. The shots were not carefully timed, but a regular cadence was maintained. If a break was needed for some reason, between two and four additional warm-up shots were fired, depending on the length of the break,

so the experiment would not resume with a cold bore. In the actual firing sequences, breaks were only due to the occasional cease fire and only lasted a few minutes.

After the data was entered into a spreadsheet, the average (mean) velocities and uncertainties in the means were computed for each of the six lots of

powder. To present the spread of velocities clearly, velocity differences were computed relative to the lot which gave the slowest average velocity. The uncertainties in the mean were computed as the standard error of the mean using the spreadsheet standard deviation function divided by the square root of the number of shots fired for each lot.

Results1 - Over the years, we’ve noticed better consistency in velocities using Fed210M rather than Fed215M to ignite cylindrical powders in cases up to .300 Win Mag, though this observation is anecdotal and not the result of carefully controlled experiments. Also see Courtney and Courtney (2011).2 - This observation of increased case capacity was before and after cleaning fired cases, without any

additional firing between determining capacity before and after cleaning.

Variations in average velocity (and uncertainties) for both the .300 Win Mag and the .25-06 loads with the six different lots of or powder are shown in Figure 1. Lot B had the lowest average velocity of 3122.5 ft/s in the .300 Win Mag and 2832.9 ft/s in the .25-06. Lot D had the smallest velocity variation compared with lot B at 11.9 ft/s in the .25-06 and 13.6 ft/s in the .300 Win Mag. Lot E had the largest increase in velocity compared with lot B with an increase of 111.9 ft/s in the .25-06 and 111.1 ft/s in the .300 Win Mag. Except for lot A, the increases

in velocity are surprisingly similar for the a given lot in both cartridges. In fact, the velocity variations with lot number of the two different cartridges have a correlation coefficient of 0.96 (including lot A). This high level of correlation demonstrates that the velocity variations depend much more strongly on the lot number than on other factors such as bore, brass, primer, or bullet. Table 1 shows the actual mean velocity of 10 shots for each combination of load and powder lot.

DiscussionThe high level of correlation between results for the two cartridges suggests that testing lot to lot

Figure 1: Average velocity variation for the six lots of H4831 compared with the slowestlot of powder which turned out to be lot B in both the .25-06 and the .300 Win Mag.

Powder Lot Variations:

A Case Study with H4831 – Hodgdon Extreme.

Continued.

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variations in powder performance in one cartridge and rifle has a good chance of accurately predicting lot to lot variations in other cartridges and rifles. Velocity variations over 100 ft/s have significant implications for both accuracy and pressure when switching to a new lot of powder. In testing the .25-06 loads, the spotter was able to call low velocities before looking at the chronograph by noting a low point of impact at 500 m. These observations agree with the prediction of the JBM ballistic calculator of the point of impact being 6.2 inches low at 500 m with the lower velocity. Velocity variations this large will also change barrel dwell time and resulting harmonics.

To consider the likely pressure variations, consider that QuickLoad V3.6 predicts a muzzle velocity of 3174 ft/s and a peak pressure of 54371 psi for 79 grains of H4831 using the 155 grain AMAX in the .300 Win Mag. This is very close to the 3177.5 ft/s velocity that results from averaging the measurements over all six lots of powder. However, compensating for possible lot to lot velocity variations requires a range of powder charges spanning from 77.5 to 80.5 grains of powder and a range of pressures from 51063 psi to 57910 psi. It is possible that a load showing no signs of pressure with one lot of powder might not be safe with another lot of powder. At their web site, Hodgdon recommends working up new loads when the lot number of any component is changed, and it is evident that this includes a new lot of Hodgdon Extreme powder (Hodgdon, 2012b):

For all brands of powders use only the components shown. If the reloader makes any changes in components or gets new lot numbers, he should begin again with the starting loads and work up to maximum cautiously.

The data shown here suggest the likely need for ammunition manufacturers to conduct performance testing when receiving new lots of powder from Hodgdon, and for end users to conduct performance testing when receiving new lots of ammunition from manufacturers. Hodgdon’s marketing claims should

not be depended upon to assure lot to lot consistency without due diligence from end users. Given that the tests described here failed to verify Hodgdon’s claims regarding lot to lot variations of their Extreme line of powder, it is also likely that greater diligence is needed regarding claims of temperature stability.

AcknowledgmentsThis research was funded by BTG Research (www.btgresearch.org) and the United States Air Force Academy. The authors appreciate the use of ranges at the Colorado Rifle Club. The authors appreciate valuable input from Dr. Amy Courtney. We also appreciate feedback from Monte Milanuk of the United States F-Class Rifle Team (F-T/R) as well as feedback from an anonymous reviewer. Distribution A. Approved for public release. Distribution unlimited. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.

References

Courtney, Michael, and Amy Courtney. 2011. High-speed measurement of rifle primer blast waves. ArXiv:1102.1644. Also Precision Shooting February 2011.

Endris, Graham. 2009. DETAIL SPECIFICATION CARTRIDGE,.300 WINCHESTER MAGNUM MATCH, MK 248 MOD 1 DODIC AB43, NSN 1305-01-568-7504, Revision A. https://www.neco.navy.mil/upload/N00164/N0016409RJN30000209RJN30_0002_att.pdf

Hodgdon Powder Company. 2012a. Extreme Rifle Powders. Accessed 19 Nov 2012. http://www.hodgdon.com/smokeless/extreme/page2.php#top

Hodgdon Powder Company. 2012b. Reloading Data Center. Accessed 19 Nov 2012. http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

Steimke, David. 2012. A new machine gun - the right weapon for today’s environment. NDIA Joint Services Small Arms Systems Annual Symposium and Firing Demonstration. http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2012armaments/Wednesday13662steimke.pdf

Webb, Bruce. 2007. 338 Lapua Magnum A “New” Cartridge Comes of Age. NDIA Joint Services Small Arms Systems Annual Symposium and Firing Demonstration. http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2007smallarms/5_8_07/webb2_440.pdf

Table 1: Average velocities (ft/s) for each lot of powder in each cartridge.

Powder Lot Variations: A Case Study with H4831 – Hodgdon Extreme. Continued.

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PARALYMPIC GAMES LONDON 2012by Robin Taylor, DTSGB Holdings Performance Coach Sunday 18th August 2012 saw the culmination of over 500 days of training and 23 plus international matches leading from 2009 up to 2012 when the majority of the members of the Paralympics GB Shooting Team gathered at DTSGB Holdings National Training facility at Stoke Mandeville Stadium. There they loaded their guns, shooting equipment & personal baggage onto their coach transport which took them to the British Paralympic Association (BPA) holding camp at Bath University for 3 days for training, media exposure & team preparation prior to the Games. For the remainder of the Team whose location made it more convenient to travel independently, we met up at Bath later in the day.

The training at Bath took place on the 10 metre Sius-Ascor in the range used by the GB Modern Pentathlon team while 50 metre training was held

on the Chippenham club range, so many thanks to them for letting us use their facilities. The media experience took most of the shooters by surprise in that the number of TV crews, radio interviews & press journalists was by far the largest any of them had experienced even after one of the team had won a gold medal in Beijing in 2008. During the past year, the Team had done some training involving what to expect from the media and how to respond to the experience that stood them in good stead both at Bath and during the Games themselves.

On Tuesday 20th August, the Performance Director, Col. B. Pasan Kularatne (ret.), travelled to the Paralympic Village to make sure that all arrangements were in place when the remainder of the Team arrived the next day. After some adjustments to the rooming locations all settled in reasonably well and then experienced their first meal in the dining hall that evening. For those who had not participated in a large multi sport event before the size of the dining hall and the range of food available was a revelation to say the least. The choice of food to suit the tastes of athletes from all parts of the world was huge and everyone on the team was able to find something to their satisfaction. To the best of my knowledge no one suffered from any problems arising from the food eaten which was a bonus as sometimes a change of eating habit can cause problems. Those who staffed

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the hall were cheerful and good natured even before 6am when some staff members had to have their breakfast early in order to get to the range in advance of those arriving nearer the start times.

There were six days of training available before the first pre event training for the P1, 10-metre air pistol, men, SH1 & R2, 10 metre standing, air rifle women, SH1 event on 29th August, the same day as the Opening Ceremony. It is unfortunate for those who were shooting in the match at 09.00 on the 30th, the first day of competition, that they were unable to participate in the Opening Ceremony. From assembling the GB team to returning to the Village after the ceremony took about 6 hours, too long for a competitor to shoot the next day without fatigue. It was almost 01.00 before bedtime arrived for those who attended the ceremony. The R1, 10-metre standing

air rifle, men SH1 shooters whose event was on 31st August were given the choice of attending or not and due to the uncertainty of the weather, they chose not to attend. Fortunately as it turned out the weather, as forecast, stopped raining around 16.00hrs so was dry for the ceremony but as the evening went on it turned pretty cool.

Day 1, 30th August, featured two matches, the R2 event at 09.00 & the P1 at 11.45. In the R2 event, the best qualification score was 396, a new Paralympic Games record by Cuiping Zhang (China). She went on to win the Gold medal, the Silver medal was won by Manuela Schmermund (Germany), the Bronze medal by Natalie Smith (Australia), by 0.10 of a point from Junri Lee (Republic of Korea). The best performance

PARALYMPIC GAMES LONDON 2012 Continued;

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for GB was Di Coates who finished in 9th place in the qualification with 389. Di had a good start with a 99 on the first series, 98’s on the next two gave a total of 295 ex 300 which was right up amongst the leaders after the first three series. She was desperately disappointed to miss out on a place in the final especially as her start had showed her world class ability. To be competitive at eight Paralympic Games is a reflection of her character and determination to continue to succeed at the highest level. The other two GB competitors scores were Karen Butler on 384 ex 400 and Mandy Pankhurst on 380 ex 400 which were a little below par but bearing in mind the occasion roughly in line with expectations. Training performance levels indicated final places were achievable but on the day it was not to be.

Later on the P1, 10-metre air pistol men, event was held with a top qualification score of 568 ex 600 achieved by Wojciech Kosowski (Poland) and Juhee Lee (Korea). They were closely followed by the eventual winner Seakyun Park (Korea) with a 567 ex 600. After 10 shots in the final Park and Korhen Yamac (Turkey) were tied for 1st place. A shoot off was held and Park scored 10.8 against 9.9 from Yamack who went into the final in 5th place, 2 points behind Park. The sole GB representative, Adrian Bunclark, scored 537 ex 600. He said that he felt he was under pressure from the start because of it being a home Games and he had family and friends watching shoot for the first time. There is some home advantage in a home Games but there is also the opposite (expectations) that the competitors have to deal with.

Day 2 consisted of one event for the GB team, R1, 10 metre air rifle standing men, SH1 starting at 09.00. GB had two entrants in this event, Nathan Milgate

and Matt Skelhon. GB did not have any competitors in the other event scheduled for this day, P2, 10 metre air pistol women, SH1. The day started unusually cold start with the temperature reading only 7 degrees C shortly prior to the start time. There was a noticeable flow of cold air coming from the 10 bays open to 50 metres at the far end of the range so conditions were not ideal, especially for those nearest to the open end of the range. A consequence of the low temperature was the sight of a number of coaches and other support staff wearing their shooters shooting jackets to warm them up prior to them putting them on for the match in an attempt to help the shooters maintain body warmth as long as possible. As with the R2 event training performance levels had been high but these were not able to be repeated in the match.

Nathan achieved 11th place with 588 ex 600 & Matt 18th place with 579 ex 600. Nathan in particular was a disappointed man because he is justifiably ranked amongst the best in the world in this event and he had been training in excess of 590 levels in training. It is true to say that he expected to achieve a higher level of performance than he was able to manage on the day but he suffered badly from the cold temperature and was unable to get his body to relax properly. The top qualification score was by Dong Chao (China) with 596, 2 points in front of Joseph Neumier (Germany). After the final the Gold medal was Chao’s, 699.5, but a shoot off was required when Neumier, 693.4 & Seungchul Lee (Republic of Korea), 693.4, to decide the other medals. Their first shot scored 10.5 for them both of them, the second score was 10.0 each but Neumier scored 10.3 on the third shot against Lee’s 9.5. Jonas Jakobsson (Sweden), 696.5 moved up from equal 3rd to take the Silver medal.

Day 3 was a busy one with two competitions. The first event was R5, 10-metre air rifle prone mixed, SH2 where GB had three competitors who had all won medals in international competition in the past year. This event often requires a score of 600 to guarantee a place in the final, as happened in the World Championships in 2010, sometimes even such a score does not even get you into the final eight. In


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London, the qualification produced ten competitors with a score of 600 including James Bevis & Georgina Callingham from the GB Squad, who both equalled the world record. As these two shooters are also ranked in the top 10 in the world it was off to the finals hall with high hopes for a medal result. The IPC rules use inner 10’s to break the ties on maximum scores, so two shooters, Jonas Anderson (Denmark) and Mark Bradley (Australia) were counted out. In effect, the final was a 10 shot match to decide the medals. When just 0.10 of a point makes the difference between the placings it was a tense 20 minutes or so while the final took place. After the 10th shot there was a tie for the second place between James Bevis and Raphael Voltz (France) having both shot 705.9. The resulting shoot-off produced a 10.5 for the Frenchman to take the Silver medal and a 10.4 for James to take the Bronze medal. Georgina, at her first Paralympic Games, finished a creditable 7th place with 705.2 only 0.7 of a point behind James. Vasyl Kovalchuk (Ukraine) won the Gold medal with a total score of 706.4, 0.5 in front of Voltz. James said afterwards that he did not feel under greater pressure in the shoot off as he knew he had a medal whatever happened so he just tried to make sure it was a good shot. Such is the level of ability of the shooters and the quality of their equipment in these events that it seems as if fate governs the results.

The 2nd match of the day was the R3, 10 metre air rifle prone mixed, SH1 event. Competing for GB was the gold medallist from Beijing, Matt Skelhon and Nathan Milgate who also shot in this event in Beijing where he finished 12th with 599. The third GB competitor was Di Coates who had taken up this event again in 2008 after a gap of some years. At the Beijing Games, only two maximum scores of 600 were recorded during qualification but there were ten 599’s. The level of scores achieved recently in international matches has increased to a point where a score of 600 is now required to secure a place in the final and have a chance of a medal. In the R5 event earlier, all eight finalists score 600 in the qualifying round so all were in with a medal chance. The ranking into the final is decided by the decimal points total but with all finalists on 600 it became another 10 shot match. There were

six 599 scored, one of whose was Nathan Milgate in 11th place. Di Coates who had a very much below par day finishing in 42nd place with a score of 490. The final was a battle for the first six shots between Cedric Fevre (France), Cuiping Zhang (China) and Matt who swapped places until the deciding seventh shot when Zhang shot 9.7, Matt 10.2 and Fevre 10.9. The final placing produced the Gold medal for Fevre with a world record score of 706.7, the Silver for Matt with a score of 706.4, just 0.30 of a point behind. The Bronze medal went to Cuiping Zhang (China) with a score of 705.8. After the final, Matt said he went into the event with an unstressed attitude as he had reached his goal for the day in the qualification when he had equalled the world record of 600. He knew it would take that to get a place in the final and he knew he was a strong finals shooter, so he expected a good result and was very happy with his Silver medal.

The medal target for the Games set for the GB team was one to two medals, so to achieve two medals in the one day was a great achievement and true testimony to the hard work that all at DTSGB had put in since the Beijing Games. To say that we returned to the Village in a better frame of mind after two disappointing days would be an understatement! The closeness of these scores in R5 & R3 events show just how much mental pressure is involved in competing on the World stage. The same is true in the R4 event that was held the next day.

Day 4 saw the end of a long wait for the R4, 10 metre air rifle standing mixed, SH2 shooters. A score of 600 was likely to figure in the top placings in the final although, due to the lesser stability in R4, fewer competitors achieve this than in the R3 or R5 events. After the qualification this prediction was correct in that three scores of 600 equalling the World and Paralympic records were recorded, one of which was by Michael Johnson (New Zealand) who is astonishingly consistent and rarely achieves a score below 600 in R4 or R5. What was surprising was that only two 599’s were achieved, but with seven 598’s a


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seven way shoot off was required to decide who would achieve the five remaining finals places. Unfortunately, no GB competitor was able to make the final in this event. The top score for GB was Richard Davies on 596 followed by Adam Fontain, 593 and Ryan Cockbill 592. On another day when things were going well they would have been in with the mix on 598. After the shoot off four shooters were eliminated, one of whom was Mark Bradley (Australia) who had the dubious distinction of missing out of the final in two events by the smallest of margins. The Gold medal was won by Juyoung Kang (Korea) with a score of 705.5, a new Paralympic record, to beat the Silver medallist Gorazd Tirsek (Slovenia) 704.7, who in turn had to shoot off with Johnson, 704.7, for the minor medals. Tirsek scored 10.8 against Johnson’s 10.3, so Bronze went to Johnson. This was the last airgun match so the range staff set about changing the range over to 50 metres for the remaining events in the programme.

After a day’s break from the early morning routine of the previous four days, Day 6 (Tuesday 4th September) brought the prone specialists to the range for the R6, 50 metre prone mixed event, SH1 which with 48 competitors was the largest in the shooting events. Karen Butler was the most experienced of the three GB entrants. Benjamin Jesson was the newest member whose first international match was in June 2011. The third members was Matt Skelhon, after trying this event in summer 2010, he started serious training in November 2010 after buying an Anschutz 1907 in a Precise stock. Three internationals and twenty-one months later the result described below speaks for itself. Weather conditions were good light with a medium strength wind, in other words seemingly normal for the Royal Artillery range. Many struggled

to find any consistency through the match, so after 40 shots there were four or five shooters who were competing for the top spot going into the final but only two after 50 shots. They were the eventual Gold medallist Abdulla Alaryani (UAE) and Jae Young Sim (Korea). After the 60 shots Alaryani was in the lead with 592, Sim having shot 95 on the last series had dropped to equal 5th place on 589. In 2nd place on 591 was Jonas Jakobsson (Sweden), the Paralympic record holder and in 3rd place Spain’s Reynaldo Saavedra with 590. Five shooters shared 5th place including Matt Skelhon who afterwards said “once I got my head straight it went very well”. How true because Matt dropped only 5 points in the last 50 shots. In a practise final in the Finals Hall during training Matt had outscored a good field so although 3 points is a big gap anything can happen in a final. As it turned out Alaryani, 695.8, just held onto 1st place by 0.20 of a point from Saavedra, 695.6, who had the best final score of 104.6. Matt, 693.2, had the second best final score of 104.2 to move up from 5th place to take the Bronze medal by 1 point from Jakobsson. Another medal for GB which meant we had exceeded the medal target set for us so another successful day. Karen was amongst those who found consistency through the match hard to find and finished with, for her, a disappointing score of 581. Ben admitted that he found the occasion of the match somewhat overwhelming and this showed in the contrast between his score of 566 and the performances he was putting in during training that indicated a much better performance was possible.

Day 7 (Wednesday 5th September) was the second 50 metre event, men’s 3 position match R7 SH1. As GB did not have anyone entered in this it meant the team had a day’s break before the last day of shooting on Thursday.

Day 8 (Thursday morning, 6th September) the sole entrant for GB was in the R8, SH1, 50 metre 3 position women’s event. Karen Butler was on the range early and as it was another cold one, warming of the jackets prior to shooting was the order of the day. Karen who had competed on the first day was competing in her third event on the last day, so had been our most active


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shooter over the period of the Games. Hopes were high for a finals placing as Karen had achieved a quota place for the team in this event in Fort Benning, USA, in 2011. A good start is always welcome and Karen was up amongst the top places after the prone position on 195, 1 point behind the top 3 places. Standing was next but two series of 89 sent her down the order outside the top eight so a good score in kneeling was required if a finals placing was to be achieved. Earlier this year Karen had taken the courageous step in changing her kneeling position which had, after a while, produced more consistent performances and with the third highest kneeling score of 190 (2 x 95) giving a total of 559 she achieved seventh place into the final. Top scores were Cuiping Zhang (China), 577, Shibei Dang (China), 576 & Veronica Vadovicova (Slovakia) also 576. Predictably, this is where the medals came from, as these three were 8 and 7 points in front of the rest of the finalists. Zhang won the Gold medal with 676.6, almost 5 points ahead of her countrywoman Dang, 671.7 who took the silver and Vadovikova, 669.6 who took the Bronze. Karen had a good result shooting a 650.8 to improve her place in the final to 6th.

The remaining event scheduled for this day was the P4, 50 metre pistol mixed which had no GB competitors so the shooting competitions of the Paralympic Games, London 2012 ended with another finals place.

Out of the eight events, GB competed in at the Royal Artillery Barracks, finals places were achieved in four events, three medals were won and three of the team equalled World & Paralympic Records. When you consider the increase in the standard of competition since the games in Beijing, this great performance is a reflection of the dedication and effort all team members, those at the Games and those back at the National Training Centre at Stoke Mandeville. There was the potential for more medals, but despite best efforts, it was not to be.

The 2012 Games for was without doubt an unforgettable and unique experience for all and our thanks go to our National Governing Body, DTSGB Holdings Limited, and all the other members of the

team whose support throughout the Paralympic cycle was so vital in achieving the success at the Games. As we go forward to Rio in 2016 with the restructured NGB, we will be seeking to increase our medal haul.

2012 Legacy

Do you think you have the talent and dedication to go to

Rio in 2016 with the GB Squad?

If you have been inspired by this article to take up shooting

and wish to learn more about how you might get involved,

visit the National Governing Body’s web site : DTSGB.org.

uk and follow the links through to the CEO or the Head

Coach.


The 2012 London Paralympic Team

Head Coach & Performance Director: Pasan Kularatne,

Coaches: Robin Taylor, Vladimir Filimonov, Andrea

Zakor and Louise Minett,

Psychologist: Jonathan Katz,

Physiotherapists: Jo Hipkiss and Natalie Lejune,

Support staff/Logistics: Kapila DeAlwis,

Athletes: James Bevis, Adrian Bunclark, Karen Butler,

Georgina Callingham, Di Coates, Ryan Cockbill,

Richard Davies, Adam Fontain, Ben Jesson,

Nathan Milgate, Mandy Pankhurst, Matt Skelhon.

Carers: Nick Badger, Andrew Cockbill,

Stephen Copstick, Carl Edwards.

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