Allowing Optics in the CMP Black Rifle Matches

[thughes]

Shooting jackets don't help in building shooting skills at least not real world shooting skills.

Yeah but mine keeps my shoulder from getting bruised when I compete with a bolt guns, wood stocks and steel butt plates are a *****.

[WARFAB]

Shooting jackets don't help in building shooting skills at least not real world shooting skills.

And that's the thing. The military isn't training for or interested in a quality competition where everyone has an equal chance of winning. The military is all about utilizing any advantage they can to make the competition as lopsided as possible on the battlefield.

This is also going to lead to purpose built scopes with purpose designed reticles. The military doesn't use a 6.5 moa ring reticle, but that's probably where competition will take things.

Whatever. At this point I'm sure everyone understands I'm not a fan of the rule change. I did buy a Phase5 extended bolt release though. Who knows if it will make much difference in my scores.

[thughes]

Come on over to the dark side DW.....

[WARFAB]

I don't make the rules, but I do play by them.

[Ham_Chu]

Just to breathe some anecdotal life back into this thread.....yesterday, down on Reade Range in PA, shooting the 3X600 match. One experienced High Power shooter was just breaking in his Leupold FX2 atop his newly brush-cut match AR. He admits to only breaking the 190 of 200 possible points once in his career. Yesterday, he shot a 195 and 196 for his first two strings (I was in pits for his 3rd, and missed that string). Following the 2nd, he inserted his ECI, stood and and exclaimed "I love my Leupold!"

[WARFAB]

How old was he?

[WARFAB]

....and how did you do?

[Ham_Chu]

He was probably in his mid/late 50's.

I was able to keep the 1903A4 on the target at 600, but just barely. Comical how round after round repeated the same sequence....6 at 2 o'clock....6 at 5 o'clock. Over and over. THEN throw in a couple of X's just for random's sake. I think my score was in the high 100's, of 300. I'll hafta look for it.

The tragedy was person after person (uh...four at the range and one just before departing (in an email)) just walking up to me and basically wishing me an extreme amount of luck, using that repro HiLux M73 scope....cos I'm gonna need it.

And I did.

It took me 19 clicks (1/2MOA) at 200yds to raise strike of bullet 14". Math don't seem right.

No matter what changes I made to the scope, there was no evident result on the target. I assume that the scope was part of it, my handloads another. Also the heat....30+ rounds in 20 minutes tends to heat things up a bit. They gave us unlimited sighters...I shot nearly 100 rounds thru the three 20 record courses.

All but the first two were scoring (oh, there was one miss somewhere else...just off the 5 ring), but I saved my target from needing a repair center, by gracefully circumnavigating the bullseye all day long.

Overall, I got what I needed, data on this rifle to prep for vintage sniper match. I am currently looking for the rings and a weaver K2.5 scope to replace the current 'glass' as this combo is legal per CMP. I am not ready for that game, yet.

Bottom line: Had a freakin' BLAST. 1st time at 600yd (1st time past a military range on 300m, actually). Doesn't seem that hard anymore. I wanna go back, try my garand, and an F-Class rifle, and this rifle again, when its running. Guys there were great. One of them let my buddy shoot a whole 20 round string off his Palma rifle. Gave him the rifle, ammo, jacket and glove. Couldn't believe it. And they put up with my shenanigans while they were competing. It was interesting to see these weird rifles many were shooting.....AR-15(?), or something like that. They were all black and had pistol grips, and these birdcage-looking things on the end of the barrels. weird.

[thughes]

.......I saved my target from needing a repair center, by gracefully circumnavigating the bullseye all day long.

Hey, that's my tactic!

It was interesting to see these weird rifles many were shooting.....AR-15(?), or something like that. They were all black and had pistol grips, and these birdcage-looking things on the end of the barrels. weird.

Those sound scary and dangerous.

Thanks for the report, sounds like a good time. CC keeps telling me I need to get the K31 out for this PA match.....

[WARFAB]

[Bottom line: Had a freakin' BLAST. 1st time at 600yd (1st time past a military range on 300m, actually). Doesn't seem that hard anymore.

I figured you wouldn't think it was that big a deal after you did it.

I had a good time when I went down there, and everyone did seem pretty cool. Nobody offered to let me shoot their palma rifle though. I'll be shooting the May match.

[Ham_Chu]

I stand corrected...my score was 429-2X of 600 total. Each of the three broke down into 146-1X/147/136-1X. each of those is out of 200.

You should really try to make an effort. Sadly, my schedule precludes me from any more this year. Each and every instance I have been booked solid, months ago. I might try to find an alternative event, but this 3X600 was outstanding.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Clearfield, PA. It was under $110 for the room.

Although next time we are talking about staying in State College (Holiday Inn Express)...there are better amenities, to include a Texas Roadhouse, and is the same time to the range but better roads (freakin' PA roads, man!). There might be better places out there, but I know what I am getting.