2014 March Madness Matches in Sacramento, California

[Killshot]

Today broke sunny and calm, at 48 degrees heading up to 75.
The wind behaved for the most part, with a slight left to right wind that stayed fairly consistent with the flags going a good job of showing the changes. (They usually lie, you know

Here are today's scores (sorry for the quality, I'll replace with better ones)

The HighPower match winner was Lane Buxton. Lane put a bipod and scope on his Palma gun and was part of the winning US F/TR team. He claims to have a home, a wife and a career but I'm not so sure. I think he lives on the 1,000yd range most of the time.

Lane with his NRA gold medal, chrystal clock trophy and champion's meal.
I have to thank Lane for his help in my understanding of the wind at Sacramento Valley. Lane is heading up a long range shooting/wind clinic next month for those new to or just interested in the sport; another one of the Good Guys.

In F-Class, it was Niklas Montin (aka Super Swede) just killing it in F/TR. Nik, please don't move to Open, I've got enough competition as it is now.
In F-Open Pete White held off the challengers to defend his day one lead. Both Gary Childs and Andrew Livengood shot today's high Open score of 444.

Niklas Montin (left) and Pete White.

Honorable mention goes to my relay-mate today, Jerry Tierney, who had an F-Class-best X-count of 42, 21 each day.

My woes continued today with severe overpressure. (Watch for a thread in Reloading tomorrow)
It was difficult staying composed and watching the wind while having to break position, yank open the bolt, bash off the case stuck in the bolt and get the gun settled in the bags after every shot.
I was certain I was going to break the extractor at some point. Or worse.
As it was, I couldn't overcome the dropped shot from yesterday and tried not to think that another 10pts and another X would have been the winning Open score.
If there's a Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda award I win it going away!

I asked a top slinger who I knew had also lost a recent match to a crossfire how to deal with it.
She said "if the worst that ever happens to you is a crossfired shot, think of how lucky you'll be."
Wise woman, that one.

All in all, another beautiful weekend shooting with friends and great competitors in the warm California sunshine.

There's one more weekend to come with the Midrange Championship (300/500/600yds). Looks like I'll be using fireforming loads since I trashed nearly a whole box of Lapuas this weekend.

If you've ever thought of coming this way to shoot, I can't say how fun these March Madness Matches are.
Put it on your to-do list for next year.

Bob Ariana

 

[Rtheurer]

Thanks Bob... Your doing well..

Noma... yep she has been doing this for Quite some time. Even the Girls( Noma Nancy, Trudy, Sharrie, Michelle) Cross fire. Noma did this year at the Fullbore SOA match this last summer.

Thanks again for osting these results.. Really do apperciate it.
RussT

 

[Rtheurer]

Bob
I Know your not alone in the post match selfbashing and Second guessing.... Its just human Nature to want to do well and not make mistakes or you would not be doing what your doing.
Here is an attempt to make you feel better..... Your not alone. This is extremely painful to post this for god and everyone to see... Look at the pic and you will see 9 shots for record and 3 sighting shots. I took my time getting ready and most had already shot there sighting shots before i sent my first one down range. While i was messing around I noticed the wind gettinng ready to let off. I had shot my three sighting shots when it came. My first shot for record was in a completly diffrent wind condition than my sighters and it was still dropping. Everyone to my right dropped apoint and some shot an 8. Some how I hung a 10 on the right. the wind gradualy picked up to its original speed and direction which allowed me to add 1/2 MOA on every other shot and keeping them in the X ring.
All firing had stopped and i had ONE shot left. Everyone else had dropped one or more points. Noma had the next Highest score with a 99-5X I believe. All I had to do was shoot a NINE!!!! Noma was up and looking at the Boards already when Closed my eyes and Yanked that damn trigger for an EIGHT at 5 : Oclock..... Noma has her name on the National Trophy now..
Dont feel bad Bob. At least it wasnt a National Trophy... at the National Championships. See now dont you feel better?
I need a Beer now.
RussT

 

[nikmon2]

Looks like the .308 is hammering. Good shooting, Nik.

Thanks Steve - I think the rifle can do even better, if I just leave it alone

 

[nikmon2]

Somebody tell Gord Hulbert to put a scope on his TR gun!!! lol tell him Kevin said so

Gordy is out of control in F - not having to wear his jacket, he now also thinks it's OK to kick off his shoes

 

[Kodiak99317]

Gordy is out of control in F - not having to wear his jacket, he now also thinks it's OK to kick off his shoes

Nik, Gord and I use our feet as "at the line wind socks", actually, the plan is to stink you guys down wind out LOL

Keep up the great posts Bobby, man I wish I was there, but someone has to save our club from a Scheiße (german for the brown stuff) show our old secretary-treasurer left us.

Keith Skjerdal

 

[mattt]

1st place is for those who got the job done the rest can make excuses why they didnt win

 

[Killshot]

1st place is for those who got the job done the rest can make excuses why they didnt win

I'll be sure to remind you of that when you blow it on a crossfire.......espescially since you were a recent beneficiary of one.


I'm well aware of the "winners have a plan, losers have an excuse" mantra, but sometimes shit happens. And this time it happened to me. There wasn no boo-hooing from me after the matches.

And it never crossed my mind to bail and not shoot the 2nd day, unlike some who have a bad Day 1 at these two-day contests.

A person's character shows much more when they lose than when they win.

I'll be back up there this weekend. Even using fireforming loads* - they'll know I'm there.

* since I destroyed my best lot of match brass last weekend!

 

[wooger]

"A person's character shows much more when they lose than when they win."

I respectfully disagree, I think a competitor's character shows through regardless of winning or losing. After all, they are the same person whether the outcome is in their favor or not.

 

[mattt]

I could care less If I win a match when another shooter crossfires. He crossfired not me .I did my best to win and I wont cry when I crossfire to lose a match :'(

 

[mattt]

Just heard from Nicklas of team Sweden it is going to be a grudge match with Finland this weekend in FT/R ;D

 

[nikmon2]

Here is Day 1 from the midrange:

Here is Day 2:

And the Total:

There are some stories that go along with the results, but they are best shared over a beer!
I had a good day2, but 4 shots from day1 kept me behind the Finn!


- It was a another fun event, but unfortunately the last of this years madness.
If you shoot all matches, you probably shoot some 1,300+ rounds - not a small feat in this time of shortages!

 

[mattt]

Nicklas thanks for posting the match scores. Thanks to Ken Breda for building me a great Savage 308 to win the Can am and this weekends match. Cant beat a finn with a salvage

 

[nikmon2]

Nicklas thanks for posting the match scores. Thanks to Ken Breda for building me a great Savage 308 to win the Can am and this weekends match. Cant beat a finn with a salvage

You Probably meant to say a Savage Finn is hard to beat?

No, well done!
- I did think I had a chance until you fired the your 600 string in 3.5 minutes

I think Ken B. built the no2 Open gun too?