How Did the Inaugural Shoot Go at Manatee???

[CaptainMal]

Steve Krauss ran the first ever Manatee long-range benchrest shoot yesterday. Overall the experience was positive and we look to the first paper match on the range at 600 yards next week.

IMG_5579 by Larry Malinoski, on Flickr

This is what it looks like downrange. We had gongs set up at 525 yards at the backstop for this shoot. The fellow in the picture, Dr. Ed, was the winner. I "hate" him as he set the new gong record for this range and is now immortalized in Manatee lore. Used a standard BR chambering in a Savage to do it too. No - he did not shoot the LabRadar. Just a curious camera perspective.

IMG_5570 by Larry Malinoski, on Flickr

Put this out there so you can see one of our issues. Groundwater percolated up to the surface and part of the range benches are under water. We are going to deal with this with digging and piping. This is part of Florida in the Summer. Our sanctioned matches are planned for Fall through Spring when this would not be a problem. Had to use a 4 x 4 quad just to get downrange to service targets. This will be more of an issue next week when we try our first IBS - style paper shoot. Must pull a trailer and workers downrange to the 600 yard line to set up the target frames. The water table is at the surface. There were NO bugs tugging us. That was a good thing.

IMG_5575 by Larry Malinoski, on Flickr

Notice the boots on Steve Krauss as he ran the match. We will now deal with some kind of bullhorn or PA system that will be needed, bench assignments, line protocol, paint issues for wet gongs, and drink options. There are porta potties there and the main range clubhouse is just about 400 yards away for those needing better facilities.

Shooters seemed to "love" the range and our total control of the activities. I thought it went well and we expect to try the paper IBS - style match this coming Saturday and work on de-bugging that a bit also.

If you are in the area, join us or just come out and watch. All suggestions accepted.

 

[Nowhere Man]

I received Steve's email write-up on it. He seemed very happy with the turnout and results. It's on my list of "must attend" matches.

 

[savagedasher]

Thank for the writing and all the effort that Steve and other put Into makeing it work .
I want to congratulate Doc on the win
The gun he was shooting is a savage
With a Mc aGowen barrel and a RAS tuner .
Great job all the club is finally moveing foward . Larry

 

[Eddie Harren]

Will this club be posting their match results on the IBS web-site?

Do they ever post them anywhere?

 

[earlcurtis67]

Is that 600 yd range open to the public on thursday and friday? E

 

[CaptainMal]

Two questions and I will try the answers.

IBS sanctioned shooting should be coming. "Should be" are the operative words. Both Steve and I have already had contacts with them. WE are not IBS certified and will not try until we have at least two IBS-Style paper shoots there. That will take until September. Right now we have only scheduled one 600 IBS-style paper shoot a month and that alternates each month between 600 and 1,000 yards. This coming Saturday (22nd) we will try our first test paper shoot at the new 600 range. Still need to figure out larger issues than the ones I stated above. We must have a club range officer oversee all shoots and NOT participate. Right now that means either Steve or I cannot shoot but must run the line. We can hire one but it's $15 an hour. Our 16 bench line can handle that but we would rather do it from our pool of benchrest shooters. That needs to be felt with as both Steve and I would like to shoot sometimes.

There will be no official IBS shooting or scheduling until we sort the range issues out. For now this Saturday (22nd) and the fourth Saturday of September (23rd) are the next two 600 paper shoots and both will be just range tests so we can learn how to call the line, enforce the procedures, learn the rules and run a proper shoot.

Our IBS expectations are to do a sanctioned, full two-day (Saturday and Sunday) shoot as many as five times just this Winter and Spring. Looking at the rules I see that for points and participation IBS does not participate in any Winter shoots. We will only have Fall, Winter and Spring shoots. It is Florida you know.
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AS for practice on a Thursday and/or Friday the answer is yes and no. There are normally no scheduled usage of that range except for the first and second Saturday or each month. It is used for police and training shotgun and handgun practice for the first 100 yards or so utilizing the side berms. Unless there is a police scheduled practice the range is ours BUT - club rules require a club range officer to be there and NOT participating. We did practice last Thursday. I shot, Steve watched and vice versa. We did have another there also.

The answer is unknown as one or both of us would have to be there to act as range officers. Right now you also need me to haul one of my quads on a trailer there just to access the target area because of the wet conditions. The club golf carts are not usable. PERIOD. For general usage it's not reasonable. We are only allowing metal target holders right in front of the backstop and that's another issue as the club is switching to wooden stake pockets and eliminating the metal holders.

Not evasive, realistic. I would love to see many practice there. It could happen. We just have to deal with the issue of reserving the range or at least scheduling a practice there and publishing that. Right now we just may have a practice there this Thursday or Friday. I have to go there to check on grass growth, trimming, set-up of target holders at the 602 paper line and more. Cannot answer right now but I would say NO until things dry in the Fall and golf carts again become usable.

Appreciate the questions. We are guests on the club's grounds and have to fit into their operation. The maein range is open to members and the general public for anything from 25 - 1,000 yards each day of operation. You just have to fit into their operation modes for your practice or set-up of reloading equipment right there.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Will this club be posting their match results on the IBS web-site?

Do they ever post them anywhere?

Hopefully 2018 will see registered matches there. They have been working hard to get the range setup properly. Steve still has to get the pa system installed. This is a "new" range on the property and I believe this is the fist match held there so far. The BS is long gone at Manatee and theres mostly new faces there. These will be legit world class matches if Steve is running them. Thanks Larry, Steve has told me how much help you have been.

 

[CaptainMal]

Thanks for the encouragement Alex.

Steve just bought a PA system. Told me he got it today. We will have to plug it in and wire to the speakers. If that doesn't work I went out today and ....

IMG_5598 by Larry Malinoski, on Flickr

Stop laughing. Now you know why I am rarely in the pictures I take and use. Got my wife upset because after we bought the darn thing today I have been obnoxious in the house with it.

We are both driving near 100 miles round-trip each time we go to the range, shopping and paying for stuff on our own - Steve way more than me. All we ask is a little time to sort things out, get more involved and get things going. All help appreciated.

 

[BT1]

Thanks for the write up Larry and your continued irreplaceable help. Yes, we made some progress. As I have told all that are involved, we will not hold sanctioned IBS matches there until WE are proud of what we have. That may still be a few months away. The PA system will be installed this week, target stands and corresponding 16 targets will be up, 2, 600 yard IBS targets to a stand. Drinks (H2O and gator aid) will be iced down. As Larry mentioned ground water flooding is nothing new to Florida, but the past few weeks see 1" to 3" per day in this area. First 2 or 3 benches are at risk of being un-usable. Looks like we will always have a minimum of 10 to 12 good quality concrete tables and target lanes.

For those that want to know what kind of scores we shoot at 600 and 1000 yards, they are comparable to many of the others in the country. Certainly not the best like (Deep Creek, ha, ha), but 600 yard targets agg are typically between 2" and 3", scoring is low due to no pits and 25 yards difference between sighter berm and targets, maybe typically in the mid 40s. 1000 yard 10 shot aggs are in the 6" to 8" on a good day. On a bad day, let's just say FL mirage is way off the charts. Obviously all scores for sanctioned future IBS matches will be posted there. I am trying to work with the club web master to post even our steel matches at 600 and 1000 for the rest of you to envy, ha, ha. 5" at 600 and 8" at 1000.

I have 2 issues facing me that may interfere with the upcoming matches progress. One is that I am forced to report for Federal Court jury duty tomorrow July 17th. Second is that I am in final preparations for the 2 big f-class matches in Ottawa, Canada. Have to leave by August 2nd, so even if I have to pay the fine and possible imprisonment I will be leaving the country.

For more information I am willing to respond to most any reasonable questions via this site PM.

Regarding the management at the Manatee Range, I am confident the new Board is listening to what the shooters and public want, including any and all safety concerns. The main range is open to the public. Not many around these days. So we deal with concerns that private ranges do not. That being said, I am becoming more proud to say I am involved in coordinating matches at Manatee. Things are much better and getting even more so daily.

Come out and see what we are doing over the entire range. You will be impressed.

Thanks for following our efforts.

Steve

 

[CaptainMal]

http://manateegunclub.com

For those asking where the heck we are and planning their winter stays - check the above site out for location and calendar. That calendar will be updated past September as we make decisions.

 

[DJB]

Thanks Steve and Larry M., and the others who helped...Without all your hard work, this never would have happened. When ever I shoot on that range, I will always appreciate all that you have done in getting this range up, and running for the 600 yard matches. Great job, and well done you guys. Doug

 

[Olspark]

Keep up the good work fellows. I'm following this with interest because I winter in nearby town of Lorida, east of Sebring.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I may have to dust of my benchrest rifles. Things are definitely looking up at Manatee because of you guys. Good luck.

Don Dunlap

 

[CaptainMal]

First paper test shoot is this Saturday. I may or may not be alone to run it but other shooters will help. We need to test the new target stands, line procedures and overall operation. Plus - many will get to shoot a 600 yard paper IBS style match. Just HG rules as we are not set up with help or equipment to weight right now.