Any first competition stories?

[model 12 toby]

;D

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

I'll start.

I just traded for a "CUSTOM" gun. It was my first. It was a Remington action, 308 caliber, Krieger barrel, and McMillan tactical stock. It was a 1 hole shooter. I was familiar with reloading, and knew that others had already developed proven 308 loads, so I was going to find those loads, and start there. After a Google search, I found this web site. After a little bit of reading, and experimenting, I found the load I wanted to go with.

After a bit of shooting, I saw a post by Mr. Joe Duke that there was a Varmint for Score match in Houston coming up in a few weeks. I just knew that my new gun was going to go down there and kick some serious butt.

I showed up not knowing a thing about competition. I scored a 226 and realized real quick that I needed to revamp my approach.

After a little more research, and asking a million questions, I decided on a REAL benchrest gun. As many of you know, I bought a Ronnie Long 30br, and then shot a 250 my first time out with it. After a little more practice, and a lot of good mentoring, I won my first match. I've been addicted ever since.

 

[watercam]

My first Long Range match was great. Shot a Master score (I am rated Sharpshooter in High Power) at 1000 yds. with iron sights and a sling. Met some great guys with great advice. Loved it! It's every match since that has me stymied! Scores not nearly as good but still having a great time! God suckered me in for the long (every pun intended) haul.
Mike T.

 

[6BRinNZ]

I started doing F-Class matches to help my wind reading for varminting. My First F-class match was at 6oo yrds, I rocked up with my Howa in 6BR, harris bipod and sand sack (after reading the Jeff cochrane article)...ended up 4th for the day (it was just a club day).....it was huge fun, I learnt heaps....now for the dilema....F-class or varminting for my weekends ;-)

 

[JoeDuke]

I'll start.

I just traded for a "CUSTOM" gun. It was my first. It was a Remington action, 308 caliber, Krieger barrel, and McMillan tactical stock. It was a 1 hole shooter. I was familiar with reloading, and knew that others had already developed proven 308 loads, so I was going to find those loads, and start there. After a Google search, I found this web site. After a little bit of reading, and experimenting, I found the load I wanted to go with.

After a bit of shooting, I saw a post by Mr. Joe Duke that there was a Varmint for Score match in Houston coming up in a few weeks. I just knew that my new gun was going to go down there and kick some serious butt.

I showed up not knowing a thing about competition. I scored a 226 and realized real quick that I needed to revamp my approach.

After a little more research, and asking a million questions, I decided on a REAL benchrest gun. As many of you know, I bought a Ronnie Long 30br, and then shot a 250 my first time out with it. After a little more practice, and a lot of good mentoring, I won my first match. I've been addicted ever since.

Hi Wes. Have you ever vowed to get even with me for what I have cost you? ;D

joe

 

[nfhjr62]

First X/C Match i went to was at Bridgeville De., first time in the pits wasn't ready for the sonic crack as the first rounds broke over head.

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

Hi Wes. Have you ever vowed to get even with me for what I have cost you? ;D

joe

It's all been good. I figure Obama is going to take my grandkids money, I might as well spend it shooting instead.

 

[wooger]

My first match in F/TR there was hardly any wind and I placed 3rd and 2nd in two matches with my factory .308. I thought to myself "this isn't so hard". I then got it handed to me at the next two matches, but I did learn something each time and still keep on going back.

 

[lmorrison17]

Saw the post about Bridgeville and had to reply. I shot my first 600yd BR match there before they were IBS matches, in Factory class. Shot 4 targets and never put a hole in the paper. ;D

 

[tightneck]

Saw the post about Bridgeville and had to reply. I shot my first 600yd BR match there before they were IBS matches, in Factory class. Shot 4 targets and never put a hole in the paper. ;D

Larry manages a little better now...

 

[model 12 toby]

boy i hope there isn't much wind. :

 

[Dgd6mm]

toby, don't sweat the small stuff. You'll be fine, except for the fact that you will be HOOKED...

 

[model 12 toby]

okay. thanks for the advice. i'm there in the morning. ;D

 

[deadlyswift]

I shot my first F class match at Camp Butner this past Labor Day Weekend. Overtime at work has kept me from making it back to another match. Hoping that will change soon!

I'll mention some of the names of the guy's that helped my first experince shooting F class at 1000yrds. A awesome experince!!

Mike Halsey
Ray Bowman
James Crofts
Mike Hardy (not sure about last name)
Jeff Rorer
Charles Ballard
Pete LaBerge
There are a few faces that I remember, but can't put a name with the face!

Bottom line! These guy's and a few other's made my first match a great learning as well a very memioral experince! Can't thank them enough! These guy's set a great example to new comer's!

I hope I can find the time to shoot more matches and follow the example that these guy's set! welcoming the new comer's, and treating them with respect, or teaching them anything that I can!

Where there is a will! There is a way!!
Mark!!

 

[ltam1198]

My first match was 1000 yard bench rest and I shoot 87 times and had 87 holes in my target and I was stoked that I even hit the target.

 

[Frankr]

Ok im going to tell it , i guess nobody realy knows who i am. my first and my only registerd benchrest shoot.100/200yd. heavy varmit . the rifle stole panda,kreiger ssm,mcmilliam BR,beautifull blue white marble.22ppc. ok at 200yds we had high winds,say 15-20mph gusts 3/4" groups were looken fair. i had 3shots cutting looken like in the .3's so i went to my sighter target and tryed to machine gun a few shots to get a read on the impact of them. well when the rifle recoiled and i slid it forward and was loading it at the same time trying to get it settled and touch one of, I thought it did not look right but fired and fired again and man it just did not look right. I was shooting Tony Boyer's sighter target he was sitting at the bench to my left.Oh yea i shot his sighter target,and then i was wondering if i might of shot his reccord target.Oh i had no idea what to do so i put my last two shots into my reccord with no regard for where they hit and bailed out of there. And hey he was pissed. now im a pretty big boy,in good physical condition.and in my neck of the woods most guys would not mess with me.But i was scared,wasent sure what to do,was imbarrassed. And i think he was going to say something to me and someone told him it was my first time and so on. so it was a bad day several groups in 1.750" range yea thats right 1.750". and embarrassed myself in front of a icon. i was feeling preaty special that tony was on the bench next to me,i never meet him but i knew who he was and he did not seem to be in a good mood even before i shot his sighter.we had near hurricane condition a storm was brewen and as soon as the match was over the sky's opened up blowen wind and rain,thunder and lightning witch helped me hide from tony because everyone was trying to get their stuff and run for cover.
This a true story-o how i wish it wasent, do i win? this has to be the best story.
hope you guys get a good laugh out of it,i do . but it wasent funny at that time.

 

[sbrabec]

Here are some results from my 10 yr old son, who I believe is now also hooked on the game! (To bad for me... TWICE the reloading) His first match was in Sept. at the range in Eau Claire, WI. All were shot from 600 yds : 187-06 174-03 181-02 181-01 I thought he did awesome, the wind picked up after the first round as the scores show. He shoots a factory Rem 700 .223 with 64gr Bergers at 600, so it gives up a lot to the wind. His second match was a team match at Northstar Rifle Club in Red Wing, MN. At 300 he posted a 197-7, at 500 182-01 and 600 178-03. His gun shoots lights out at 300 with 52gr sierra. I was pulling targets for him at 300yd durning some pratice shooting and he blew the spotter and half the target up. Grandpa was on the line with him when this happened and Tyson (my son) looked at grandpa and said: "Grandpa, I think I just blew up the target". It's just to bad it gives up so much at the longer distances. Gives me a good reason to get another 6BR barrel for him I guess. <---Just have to get it by the boss!!
Scott

 

[DennisH]

My first competition ever was about a month ago. After many friends from the club telling me to enter one of these matches, I finally did it.

It was a state two day match and we had people there from about 5 states or better! I took my shooting buddies advice and brought my 308 out and shot the F/TR 600 yard class, unclassified. The match was a two day event, shooting 60 rounds per day, 120 total! Plus your sighters!

Sunday evening, I stuck around to watch the trophies being given out and to my surprise (I had no clue) my name was called out taking first place in my class with a 29 point spread/leed!

I cannot expressed how suprised I was/am! My friends at the club who knew me and were watching knew I was doing pretty good, but being a long two day event, they didn't want to say anything. They did congradulate me and told me that's why they wanted me to enter the matches as they figured I would probably do pretty good! I didn't think I would have a chance!

About two weeks later I recieved a letter from the NRA with my classificaton card! After my first match I became classified as a "Sharpshooter"!

Now, I watch daily for the next match coming up!!!!!!!!!

 

[4xforfun]

1st match....1k...won 3 of 4 relays and 2 of 3 shootoffs.(hg & lg) with my new toy. Won 75 % of the relays I shot in that summer(14 matches) amd half of the shootoffs....did well at Nats. Happy, and ready to kick everyones butt "next year"!!!

2 years, a bunch of guns, money and experiance later....I CAN'T WIN $H)T!!!!! Unhappy, and ready to kick everyones butt next year!!!

The end.

 

[DennisH]

4xforfun, what are you shooting, DETAILS!