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Today, Saturday 02nd July, was the first day of the 2 day competition which makes up the F Class league Long Range competition. Called the Long Range as it is shot over two days at the 3 distances of 1000, 1100 and 1200 yards. For many, and me included, this is one of the very few times a year when we can actually shoot past 1000 yards and is worth entering just for that privilege.
I understand the competition was fully booked, I think Mik said that was 75 shooters. It is good to see shooters from all parts of the UK as well as Ireland and several from Europe who made the journey.
I arrived early on purpose as I wanted to settle down before the blow offs at 1000 yard and was quickly joined by 20 series who spotted me before I spotted him despite it being too warm for us to be wearing our hoodies.
My plans of being settled down and calm before the first detail were partly set back when Mik was informed that the NRA set up the wrong set of targets and we were all instructed to move 4 targets to our right.
I shall not go through the 3 details today shot by shot but can say that the conditions were new to me and caught a lot of people out.
Unusually what little wind that there was, was blowing right to left, but to be honest the flags were hardly moving. The mirage was there right from the first shot, I measured 19 deg at 0830 hrs, so it was a hot from the off and easily rose another couple as the day wore on.
What I and others had not been prepared for was the effects that the hot thermals were going to have on our scores, I personally saw my strikes move at 1200 yards consistent with a 10 plus mph wind, moving my hits further and further right no matter what hold over I gave them, eventually ending up placing my point of aim on the left side of the frame and still hitting in the 1 ring on the right side.
Of course the thermals were not just moving us to the side but also raising and lowering our shots. I think I would rather have shot in a cross wind, at least then I would have had the flags to look at, the trick of winding back the focus (parallax adjustment) to try and spot the mirage was failing to pick up the changes.
I finished the day trying to get something positive from it and concluded that my kit had all preformed and nothing but the nut behind the butt had let me down, I know of at least one shooter who had a malfunction on the first detail and was unable to shoot for the rest of the day.
Tomorrow promises to be another hot day, unusually for me I am praying for a little wind,

DM

They certainly sound like unusual and trying conditions even for Stickledown, did the 1000/1100 drops from that Thursday hold good for you?

good to finally meet you DM!

Personally I'm hoping for better things tomorrow, I had good 1000, a mare on the 1100 and the 1200 was ok. Two details at 1000 tomorrow, so i'm hoping to pull my socks up and get back up the table a bit.

Alan

Dangermouse, that was an interesting read.

I do like what the mirage does, it is certainly a challenge!

Weather for Bisley for Sunday is white cloud, temp 21 and less wind than today.

The settings got me on paper but were roughly 2 MOA out, probably due to the heat. What did throw me was the lack of wind today compared with the wind we were having. The blow off shots proved invaluable, with the first 3 not being observed. I was getting really worried when my partner assisted and we both spotted them landing on the left side of the target to our left - thats how much windage we had on!

Despite loving this new Sightron, I can not keep track of the windage through the 60 odd MOA range that it has, I spoke with the UK importer today and he says that it is a common observation and feedback is being received state side, too late for me but I hope that they change it and others can benefit.

Sunday started with the promise of some comforting familiar wind blowing from left to right, but again the thermals proved to be doing their own thing no matter what the flags were suggesting.
With the wind blowing it was just cold enough for 20Series and I to have our hoodies on for 20 minutes, hopefully a picture will be added shortly.
Today we had two strings, both shot at 1000 yards. First a 2+15, then a 2+20. I would like to say that I had learnt some lessons from yesterday but unfortunately the only lessons that I have learnt could not be put into effect over night.

Once again Mik Mak put on a great competition with everything well organised and only the NSC throwing a spanner in the works right at the beginning of Saturday.

For my part, I have really learnt that the load that I have been using, which has been OK at club level, just will not cut it when playing with the big boys. I have some serious load development to do before Diggle in early August, using new powder, primers and swapping the SMK's for Berger's.
As I purchased some of the components from the HPS tent, the realisation that I will be lucky to get any range time with the Imperial taking up July, hit me. I hope that I can somehow pull the rabbit from the hat.
I will say that I did try the range office first for the components but they did not have what I was after - thank goodness HPS had set up early.

Shame Ovenpaa and ExSkydiver did not make this one, I would have liked to have seen how their rifles got on,
Personally I feel that I did worse this year than I did last year with my bog standard Rem 700 SPS, perhaps my expectations were just too high with my level of experience,

DM

A couple of pics from the weekend

A Classic view in my humble opinion, F-Open shooters at the 1100 yrd point and the famous Bisley Clocktower


And the dynamic duo :lol:

Dangermouse wrote:Sunday started with the promise of some comforting familiar wind blowing from left to right, but again the thermals proved to be doing their own thing no matter what the flags were suggesting.
With the wind blowing it was just cold enough for 20Series and I to have our hoodies on for 20 minutes, hopefully a picture will be added shortly.
Today we had two strings, both shot at 1000 yards. First a 2+15, then a 2+20. I would like to say that I had learnt some lessons from yesterday but unfortunately the only lessons that I have learnt could not be put into effect over night.

Once again Mik Mak put on a great competition with everything well organised and only the NSC throwing a spanner in the works right at the beginning of Saturday.

For my part, I have really learnt that the load that I have been using, which has been OK at club level, just will not cut it when playing with the big boys. I have some serious load development to do before Diggle in early August, using new powder, primers and swapping the SMK's for Berger's.
As I purchased some of the components from the HPS tent, the realisation that I will be lucky to get any range time with the Imperial taking up July, hit me. I hope that I can somehow pull the rabbit from the hat.
I will say that I did try the range office first for the components but they did not have what I was after - thank goodness HPS had set up early.

Shame Ovenpaa and ExSkydiver did not make this one, I would have liked to have seen how their rifles got on,
Personally I feel that I did worse this year than I did last year with my bog standard Rem 700 SPS, perhaps my expectations were just too high with my level of experience,

DM

Don't be too hard on yourself mate, it was very tricky

I can only echo the sentiment though :? I was hoping to perform better myself, I didn't stay until the end but I expect the results should be out sometime this week.

Alan

Nice to see Stickledown with blue sky overhead, it has rained on me the last three times this year, I would have liked to have shot with you guys if only for the sun and good company

I am sure I will join up again with you soon for something.

ovenpaa wrote:Nice to see Stickledown with blue sky overhead, it has rained on me the last three times this year, I would have liked to have shot with you guys if only for the sun and good company

I am sure I will join up again with you soon for something.

Well I think I need some practice, I may well take my .308 with me during the NSRA small-bore champs in August and have a play on Stickledown at some point.

Alan