March Madness in Sacramento, CA (we're not talking Hoops!)

[Killshot]

This week kicks off the March Madness events at the Sacramento Valley Shooting Center in Sloughhouse, California.

AMERICAN/CANADIAN MATCH: 6-10 March
Palma Rifle and “F” Class - strings are 10 for record - 2 sighters
Wed: Squadded practice – 300, 600, 900 and 1000 yds. (48 rounds)
Thur: Folsom Club match - 300, 600, 900 and 1000 yds. (48 rounds)
Fri: 4 Man Team Match – 300, 600, 900 and 1000 yds. (48 rounds)
Sat: Day 1 inividual – 300, 600, 900 and 1000 yds. (68 rounds)
Sun: Day 2 individual – 300, 600, 900 and 1000 yds. (48 rounds)
Total number of rounds – 260

LONG RANGE REGIONAL: 13-17 March
Palma Rifle and “F” Class - strings are 15 for record - 2 sighters
Wed: Squadded practice 800, 900 and 1000 yds. (55 rounds)
Thur: Folsom Club match Palma course of fire. (55 rounds)
Fri: 4 Man Team Match – Palma course of fire. (51 rounds)
Sat: Day 1 individual – Palma Match. (55 rounds)
Sun: Day 2 individual – Palma Match. (55 rounds)
Total number of rounds – 271

FOLSOM 1000: 20-24 March
Any Rifle and “F” Class - strings are 20 for record – unlimited sighters.
Wed: Squadded practice – 1000 yds. (2 strings)
Thur: Folsom Club Match – 1000 yds. (2 strings)
Fri: 4 Man Team Match – 1000 yds. (2 strings)
Sat: Day 1 – 1000 yds. Any/Any (2 strings)
Sun: Day 2 – 1000 yds. Any/Iron (2 strings)
Total number of rounds – 300 (estimate 30 rds/string)

Hopefully we'll have some warm weather (last week was low 70ºs) for our friends from North of the border and Midwest.

We begin with a Fullbore COF in the American/Canadian Cup.

Will try to update scores as they happen.

 

[dannyjbiggs]

Gawd......how I miss it! Those were the good ol' days, starting out at Coalingua and following up in SVSC. And, never knowing what clothing to bring...so you bring it all, and then one get's to experience: one-zipper-weather, two-zipper-weather, and three-zipper-weather at Culverson Cove!! (Zippers refers to the number of zippers one has to go thru while un-bundleing to take a piss!) I surely miss it guys, but won't be there. Have a great time.

Danny Biggs

 

[mattt]

Isnt friday the 8th a 2 man team match? If not my team is 2 poeple short ;D just looked at paper f/class will be 2 man team fullbore 4 man team

 

[Killshot]

Someone asked about the forecast this week.....

The weekend should be perfect.
Practice and Club match shooters might need an umbrella and towel.

 

[Killshot]

The organized Practice on Wednesday got through with no rain.

The Club Match on Thursday also was a dry event, though the forecast must have scared most of the locals off as there were only four F-class shooters and a dozen or so High Power shooters.

Will post results of today's Team Match sometime tomorrow.

Scores and photos of the weekend's American/Canadian Championship will be posted on Monday.

 

[Killshot]

Today was Day 1 of the Canadian/American Matches.
There was a good turnout (though smaller than last year)
With the Canadian side holding the majority.

There were more High-Power shooters than F-Classers.

The day started cool (38) but sunny and little wind and the
300 & 600 yard strings were pretty easily handled.
On toward Noon the winds showed their Springtime teeth with
a steady 8-12mph and gusts to 17 for the 900 & 1K strings
and some excellent shooters were shaking their heads.
The day warmed up to a toasty 68 degrees, next week's forecast
calls for near 80 (!) for next week's Palma matches.

The California Grizzlies Junior Rifle Team serve as target pullers
for this match and do a fantastic job of keeping the targets
in the air with quick scoring, a good thing when you're working
the wind.

The Grizzlies also put on a catered post-match lunch
with grilled Tri-Tip and all the sides plus dessert.

Today we shot string-fire, 15 at each distance. Tomorrow we
shoot two-to-the-mound, 10 shots at each distance.

Here are today's scores. Somehow I managed to keep it
near the middle at 1K and topped F-Open. We'll see what
tomorrow brings.

Bob

 

[Killshot]

Here are the Day 2 scores

Today we had lighter winds and instead of a strong headwind we had a quartering-away tailwind. You never know which way it'll blow in the Spring though it was left to right today(the normal direction at SacValley), a reverse of yesterday.

Today's match was 10shots and 2 convertible Sighters with two-to-the-mound for Alternate fire.
All the F/TR shooters shot in the first group and all F/Open in the second group, with High Power shooters on the line for both groups.

Once again the California Grizzlies pulled targets for us and did a terrific job - I noticed there were far fewer calls for target scoring than when we shooters take our turn in the pits at the monthly matches! Those kids pay attention and are quick! A lot of money was raised this week for their Camp Perry trip this summer.

Keith Skjerdal and I were paired up as the Day 1 leaders in F/Open. We both shot well but were outscored today by Robert Hoppe thanks to his scoring at 900yds.
I managed to overcome some brain-lock (2 missed Sighters at 300yds due to pre-match knob-twiddling and two Record 7s to start off at 900yds) to stay ahead of Keith for the win in F-Open. To be fair, Keith was shooting unformed brass today and I'd bet some of those lost points weren't due to where he was pointing it.

As usual the High Power shooters continue to amaze me with their accuracy at long range with open sights. The wind this weekend was difficult to read both direction and velocity. Yet Lane Buxton came through with a final score of 983 out of a possible 1,000pts with 55 out of 100 shots finding the X-ring. Outstanding! Lane is also a member of the U.S. F/TR Team shooting at this year's Worlds Championships in Raton, NM

22nd Annual Canadian/American Match Winners
Champion and High Power Winner: Lane Buxton
High Power Senior: Jim O'Connell
High Power Grand Senior: Michel Dunia
First Place: Curtis Gordon
Master: Randy Pike
Expert: Dennis Vanlier
F/TR: Niklas Montin
F/Open: Bob Ariana

Some photos of the weekend's match will be posted here soon.

Thanks to everyone who made the match's fundraising a success.

Go Grizzlies!

 

[Phil]

Congratulations Bob...................

Good shooting.

Phil.

 

[Kodiak99317]

Bob, thanks for posting the results. It was great to meet you and shot with you. Looking forward to next time eh.

Yup, some of the fire forms went low 1 moa for some reason( 6 oclock 8's), and some, I'm glad they did not go where I was holding, ie holding 7 or 8 ring left to blow into a 9 or a 10. The ones that hurt are where you think you see it and hold 8 and shot an 8 right right you where holding, or hold 8 upwind and it blows ya clear across for a 8 down wind! Funny how fast a condition can change eh! Like I said, he who makes the least mistakes wins and that was you Bob, and if it where always easy, we would have to find a new sport, right Bob.

I had a great time and got what I wanted done, test the Matrix 168 VLD's in the True Flight 9T barrel with H4350 and Russian primers. It was a fast test, 1/2g jumps to see where she wanted it. In my straight 284, that is 50.5g and into the lands. More tests to come, I think I can squeeze some more out of it with .1 to .2 g more powder

Speaking of Russian primers, I had maybe 4 to 5 that needed a 2nd hit out of approx 175 shots including testing. How many of you guys have to 2nd hit these Russians to make them go off?

And once again, congrats on your win Bob!

Keith

 

[Nodak7mm]

Killshot,

Great post and information, sounds like a trip to the West Coast would be awesome in March!!

Great shooting to the competitors..

Rod

 

[Killshot]

Keith, I'd shoot with you anytime, friend. Have a great season.

Rod, thanks. I always enjoy reading other's match results, seeing what conditions they have and such. It looks like we're one of few places that is warm right now!

I'll give a report from this weekend's Long Range Regional - Palma matches.

Bob

 

[Steve Blair]

It's 78 in San Diego today. That seems Ok to me.

 

[Nodak7mm]

Steve,

That's just cruel... :-[ We are above zero for now, got about 5" of white stuff in last 5-6 hrs. Conditions are forecast to continually deteriorate thru Mon... :-X

I hope your happy..... :'(

Lol

 

[Steve Blair]

Rod, the weather is nice but the political climate sucks. In fact, the Sac Valley shooters are much closer to the problem's source. :-[

 

[Killshot]

Today we had a good crowd. Had light to nil wind to start the day.
High temp was around 76 degrees. Expect the same tomorrow.

We're shooting up here...... unlike some

 

[Kodiak99317]

Thanks for more match results Bob. I see attendance is up! Give a big Cdn EH to Bob Mead and Gary Childs for me If BM can't remember me, just say "2 left"and he will remember LOL

 

[Killshot]

This weekend wrapped up the Steve Zinsmaster Memorial Long Range Regional matches.

We had full fields in High Power and F-Open, with light attendance in F/TR.
The winds weren't as ferocious as last weekend, scores were high and the competition was tight.

Here are the aggregate scores post at the end of the match Sunday

Winners are:
HP HighMaster: Bob Gustin
HP Master: Jerry McDonough
HP Expert: Mick Barr
F/TR: Niklas Montin
F-Open: Bob Ariana

I managed one more X than the always-good Pete White to get my second win of the March Madness.
Huge thanks go out to my barrel-smith, Marc Soulie of Spartan Precision Rifles in California.

Here's a photo of the top three finishers in F-Open (Bob M, Bob A, Pete W)

Who says you have to shoot a 7mm to win in Open? I'm keeping my 6 Dasher.

 

[nikmon2]

Good win Bob, but now you need to change your tagline "X's matter....but 10s win"
- Maybe, "Every X counts"

For me, this would be the year I only shot at my own target - that didn't last long

/niklas

 

[mattt]

Was going to build a 7mm now rethinking it ! Great win Bob, may go with a Dasher

 

[Steve Blair]

Was going to build a 7mm now rethinking it ! Great win Bob, may go with a Dasher

[br]
The problem is not that 6's are not accurate or cannot win. I saw a 6BR win the AZ State Palma in 2010 over 6.5's and 7's. The problem is that wind estimate errors cost more and, over the long run, will eventually get you. [br]
Congratulations to Peter and Coach Mead. I don't know Bob Ariana but he obviously shot well to edge Peter and Bob Mead with a Dasher. Congratulations, Bob.