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Bart Sauter Interviews with Erik Cortina

jackieschmidt said:
One thing I cold not help notice during the interview, (and another Eric has done with another notable Short Range Benchrest Shooter), is his lack of knowledge of the ins and outs of Short Range Benchrest.

(That is, unless he was feigning a lack of knowledge for dramatic affect).

We as Short Range Shooters, both in Group and Score, need to take note that if a shooter as notable as Erik Cortina is this ignorant, (I am not using that in a derogatory manner), of what we do, how in the world are we going to get others interested in trying our Discipline.

I think I have a pretty good knowledge of Precision Rifle, F Class. High Power, Palma, etc. I guess we just can’t assume that other shooters in other Disciplines know what we do and what it takes to get involved.

As a NBRSA Mentor in the Gulf Coast Region, I have helped three shooters get headed in the right direction since June. All three were quite experienced with firearms, and all three had very little idea as to accuracy and precision we achieved with our Rifles, and what it takes to get there.

I think for the next shooter I am going to tell them to watch this interview before we meet.

As an organization, we have an uphill battle.
,
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You are 100% spot on. When I venture into benchrest last year I look the internet over and YouTube with really no avail. I found a couple videos and found this group and started from there. Lots of trial and error. I was very bless to have obtained Speedy Gonzalez ,and Mike Ratigan numbers and be able to talk to those guys about issues I would have with rifles or loads. This group here on this forum is also very great. But I believe the benchrest community needs something to be able to reach out to this newer generation like myself and others. Atlases to learn a few fundamentals and get the basic idea. Otherwise without passing knowledge ans wisdom along to the new generation it'll be lost and the sport will suffer greatly.

Robert
 
Yes, you guys are right. Theres very little real knowledge of BR out there. Im on a few forums and used to be on FB. Everyone has thinks they know what its like, a bunch of grumpy old men stuck in their ways usually. When at least in my experiance its the opposite, open minded guys that test everything, and have a great time after the match. Usually some BBQ and beers. I know I have a blast, I dont even need to shoot. They also think or at least want to think that the processes we use to tune or shoot a BR rifle dont apply to other rifles. When they in fact 100% do. I shoot more non BR stuff than BR stuff and I know. I gave an LRB stock the the youtuber Gavin gear. I gave him a little advice about inletting it. My hope was that once he had a BR rifle he would come to Missoula and check out a real BR match and do a video. Expose all his viewers to what it really is. I could not get him to come out, I was very disappointed. I think it would be a great show, some video in the pits, some of the loading setups, scoring shed, the cook out. I think a lot of people are intimidaded at first when they shouldnt be. At least at Deep Creek its a bunch or regular working guys that do not take themselves too seriously and its fun. No one cares if you dont shoot well and have questions. Thats been my experiance with BR in general. Like Bart in the video, most of the top guys will tell you anything. No secrets.
 
Doing NRA Highpower rifle matches was the same. Everyone willing to help. Lots of friendly people and a great time. In sharp contrast, NRA conventional pistol shooters tend to be on the a**h**e side of the coin. Combat shooters seem evenly mixed. Before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, this is just MY experiences.
 
Sleepyhollow said:
You are 100% spot on. When I venture into benchrest last year I look the internet over and YouTube with really no avail. I found a couple videos and found this group and started from there. Lots of trial and error. I was very bless to have obtained Speedy Gonzalez ,and Mike Ratigan numbers and be able to talk to those guys about issues I would have with rifles or loads. This group here on this forum is also very great. But I believe the benchrest community needs something to be able to reach out to this newer generation like myself and others. Atlases to learn a few fundamentals and get the basic idea. Otherwise without passing knowledge ans wisdom along to the new generation it'll be lost and the sport will suffer greatly.

Robert
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How about going to a match and shoot? Learn from the other guys there instead of the internet. Talk loading, equipment, you name it.

The NBRSA had a mentor program, use that.

Later
Dave
 
Alex Wheeler said:
Good interview. I like that Erik is doing these. With so many guys on the internet coming off as experts giving advice I think it's important to have people with proven track records out there like this.
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Well, come to think of it… have you been in that hot seat yet? Forgive my oversight if so, but otherwise, any “seconds”?

And there’s another idea, the one whose last name is boss.
 
Alex Wheeler said:
I'm not sure I understand what you are asking?
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Just that I’d sure like to watch your interview, if you were open to one, as someone very, very experienced in the mechanics and principles of rifle accuracy, although Erik’s protocol may be a chain nomination process.
 
Alex Wheeler said:
Erik has asked me a couple times. I'm not sure that I would do a very good interview and I'm not a social media fan. Just another high school drop gunsmith.
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Erik knows what he’s doing, and shouldn’t stop asking, every now and then. I understand, whoever that intellect is that writes your posts is as thoughtful, thorough, engaging, informed and empathetic as anyone on web ;). I’d be 5 of the views if you changed your mind :).
 
D Coots said:
How about going to a match and shoot? Learn from the other guys there instead of the internet. Talk loading, equipment, you name it.

The NBRSA had a mentor program, use that.

Later
Dave
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^^^^^^^
Dave, that is one of the first things I tell a shooter when they call me.
Going to a Match strips away most of the mystery. This is truly one of the times when a “picture” is worth a thousand words.

It amazes me how the concept of loading at the range is so foreign to many shooters While being second nature to anybody involved in Short Range Group Shooting. Even at the Tack Driver, where many of us Short Range Shooters were kinda grouped together with our loading tables, quite a few people would walk by and actually seemed fascinated with what we were doing, right there at the Range.

Often someone will start a thread….. “Show us your loading room”

I show them this. If I ever do load at my house, I will simply set my range loading table up in my shop.5394A867-7068-4466-A235-86C55709B44F.jpeg
 
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Exactly Jackie. They need to jump in before they let all the internet stuff cloud their minds....find a mentor...NBRSA has a list. If you don't know where it is PM me.

Here's my setup. Been testing bullets lately. 56 degrees in Iowa today. 3 batches of different jackets out of 7 I made up seemed to shoot. More testing to come. This 4 shot 100 yd group was shot in a 10-15 mph switchy head wind. No zero, but it's ok. 6 big steps from loading to bench. Wears a guy out. 20221123_165303.jpg20221123_165219.jpg20221123_151757.jpg Life is good. I started buying jackets several years before I bought bullet dies. These are some of those.
 
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That concrete bench top I shoot from is the first thing that hit the ground on my new property I built my new house on, and I can guarantee that it WILL NOT MOVE. I bought it from the St Louis Benchrest Club. The other 3 I have had I made myself.

Later
Dave
 
liljoe said:
Is that picture on the wall your first time reloading Dave?

Joe
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Oh, the explosion, good eye Joe...that was one of the most "coolest" blasts I had of all my years in the quarry business. My daughter was a professional photographer and just happened to be at one of my quarries that day and took the pic for my companies 50th Anniversary. It was cool enough that my explosives supplier has one on the wall of his office. I'll take a closeup and explain.
 
D Coots said:
Exactly Jackie. They need to jump in before they let all the internet stuff cloud their minds....find a mentor...NBRSA has a list. If you don't know where it is PM me.

Here's my setup. Been testing bullets lately. 56 degrees in Iowa today. 3 batches of different jackets out of 7 I made up seemed to shoot. More testing to come. This 4 shot 100 yd group was shot in a 10-15 mph switchy head wind. No zero, but it's ok. 6 big steps from loading to bench. Wears a guy out. View attachment 1386552View attachment 1386553View attachment 1386554 Life is good. I started buying jackets several years before I bought bullet dies. These are some of those.
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Darn Dave, I really have it bad. It is 12 minutes from my house to my home range, the Tomball Gun Club.

Last spring,I bought a set of Rorschach Dies,complete with punches, that had been laying in a safe for over 20 years. The guy I bought them from had got them in the ‘80’s from a shooter who passed away. I doubt they have had 10,000 bullets made on them.
They basically make the same 66 or 68 grn FB bullet that Jeff made. They shoot pretty darned good as well.
 
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