New Texas matches

[mikecockcroft]

Pine Valley Benchrest Range located in Huntsville Tx will be the new home for 500 meter Fly Shoots. I have been working with Les Fraser of the Australian 500 meter Fly shooting association to bring their Fly Match to Texas. In the planning stage now but we will have our first match late September or first weekend of October. In discussions now about our first match being a type of postal match with the Australians.
Plan is for several matches in 2018 with a shooter of the year named.
Please go to their website and read the rules and match format.
http://www.500mflyshooter.com.au/

Ask any questions here or my email is
mike at cockcroftconstruction dot com

More info to follow
Mike

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Too bad the restrictions for light rifle are not quite in line with F-TR rifles for weight. I would have liked to come up and try it but my F-TR rifle is more than 17lbs but under the F-TR limit of 8.25 kilos (18.18 and a bit lbs.)

 

[mikecockcroft]

most of the rifles shot at this match will be the same that we use at our clay bird shoots. We have rifles that are under 17 pounds that we use for the shorter range (up to 400 yds)clay bird and poker chip matches. And we have heavier rifles that are basically the same as an F open rifle. I don't envision many rifles over 22 pounds. There are a few guys that have rifles that weigh around 29-30 pounds that will be there.
The only difference between your Ftr rifle and ours is the choice of front rest. Shoot off the bipod or bring a front rest

 

[johnnyi]

Too bad the restrictions for light rifle are not quite in line with F-TR rifles for weight. I would have liked to come up and try it but my F-TR rifle is more than 17lbs but under the F-TR limit of 8.25 kilos (18.18 and a bit lbs.)

I have a cutting wheel and hack saw. It wouldn't take much to get you aligned for both this match and FTR! I meant the rifle... Not you

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

My rifle is nicely under the F-TR max weight, thank you. I just can't make the light rifle under the Fly rules.

And ain't nobody touching my rifle with anything but an envious look.

 

[mikecockcroft]

Do you weight ftr rifles with or with out bipod?

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

With the bipod. Anything that is attached to it when you shoot. If I lift the rifle, anything that comes with it (except the shooter) is factored in the weight.

 

[sdeal5]

I'm in, Mike. Can't wait to try it. I appreciate you taking the time, and going to the expense, of hosting the match. Pine Valley is a great venue and I'll be looking forward to it
Scott

 

[tbeasley]

Count me in,
BTW do we have to talk like Aussie's? This is gonna be fun.."come from the land down under" melody in my head now...
Haha

Gonna have to slap a other rifle together for this one.

 

[X-Caveman]

Flies & Pigs at Pine Valley. I love it. Let me know if I can help with sighter plates.

 

[mikecockcroft]

600 yd pig match next Saturday by the way

Travis
Thinking about ways to do sighters for Fly Match
You get to shoot 3 sighters before each record target. I have my 2x4 and 4x4 plates but would rather have a sighter plate right below each target as they do in Australia. I can fab up something on my I beam skids to hang a plate at each target. I need to bring one of my skids to the shop and experiment with it.
I was thinking about putting the 4x4 plates between each bank of six targets for initial sight-in for those not on at 600. Then they can go to small plate under their target during match.
I will call you about ordering sighter plates. I'm guessing you are shooting poker chips at Denton today
Mike

 

[X-Caveman]

Count me in,
BTW do we have to talk like Aussie's? This is gonna be fun.."come from the land down under" melody in my head now...
Haha

Gonna have to slap a other rifle together for this one.

600 yd pig match next Saturday by the way

Travis
Thinking about ways to do sighters for Fly Match
You get to shoot 3 sighters before each record target. I have my 2x4 and 4x4 plates but would rather have a sighter plate right below each target as they do in Australia. I can fab up something on my I beam skids to hang a plate at each target. I need to bring one of my skids to the shop and experiment with it.
I was thinking about putting the 4x4 plates between each bank of six targets for initial sight-in for those not on at 600. Then they can go to small plate under their target during match.
I will call you about ordering sighter plates. I'm guessing you are shooting poker chips at Denton today
Mike

Poker chips are next Sat & Sun. If I can trick someone into helping with the kids, I plan on shootin pigs on sat. We can figure out your sighters then

 

[mikecockcroft]

Had a question regarding the no muzzle brake rule. I am wanting to use the rules as written by the parent organization. In order to make this a postal match where we can truly compare our scores to theirs, I believe all rules, targets, equipment, etc have to be the same here as in Australia.

Lets kick some Aussie arse- in a polite way of course
Mike

 

[mikecockcroft]

Texas VS Australia Fly Shoot
500 meter, score and group
September 23, 2017
Pine Valley Benchrest Range
Huntsville TX

Full details soon

 

[seb]

You will like the Australian Fly Shoot.
Your stock can also be as wide as 8 inches either shooting the LG or HG.
seb.

 

[mikecockcroft]

The September 23 match will be a postal match with the Canberra Pro Cal Cup match shot the same day. The Canberra match is one of their premier matches.

link to the Aussie fly shooting forum
http://www.500mflyshooter.com.au/index.cfm/forum/

 

[mikecockcroft]

Have had a few questions about rules and equipment.
1)This match will be shot from a bench using front rest, rear rest, bags, or tripod. If using a bipod, the rifle will be weighed with the bipod attached. No rail guns or return to battery rests.
2) rule book says host range can limit caliber. This match will be restricted to under .339
3) you can shoot both light and heavy class. you must designate which class is your primary class in case there are too many entries to allow you in both classes.
4) Heavy gun is any weight as long as you can carry it to bench by your self without aid.
5) you have three sighter shots per record target. These 3 shots can be fired before you shoot target or you can go back and forth between sighter plate and target. Only 5 hits on target and maximum of three hits on plate.
There will be a 12x12 steel plate hung under each target.
6) Light gun is 17 pounds and under.
7) Any scope
8) You can have the aid of a spotter during the match.
9) You can us a spotting scope during the match
10) you will shoot 5 record targets.
11) you can use personal wind flags

Range will be open the Friday before the match.
I will post practice days starting in June for shooters registered in the match to come practice at 500 meters (547 yds)

Ask questions here or email me at mike at cockcroftconstruction dot com

The Aussies are looking forward to this postal match. Log on to their forum and let them know how bad we are going to beat them!!!

 

[comagutsa]

you guys will love it just spewing i'm on the other side of the country so wont be able to make it to Canberra shoot to give ya a run for your money haha ..
i am a fly shooter from oz and its addictive .. nothing like shooting for score but you also get a score for your group size eg 1 inch group = 10 points , 1 to 2 inch = 9 points etc down to 9-10 inches is 1 point
also if you hit the fly you get an extra 0.1 or 0.01 (which ever you decide to score by) on top of your 10 score for it
i use my LG (6BRX that weights 7.695kg or 16.96lb) for HG also, and yes no muzzle breaks as there is nothing worse than sitting on a bench and the bloke next to you has a muzzle break..haha

my set up


how our targets are set up but other clubs are different eg swinging bisalloy plates etc


one of my targets (not my best but give you an idea)


its a great sport and fun with lots of banter, just don't forget rule 10 .. Any shooter not enjoying themselves will be disqualified... hahaha

 

[X-Caveman]

Very cool. Thanks for posting the pics. Looking at that target, I'm glad you won't be shooting the postal match!

 

[Mega]

Very cool. Thanks for posting the pics. Looking at that target, I'm glad you won't be shooting the postal match!

You'll be shooting against some guys that can put all 5 shots into that 10 score ring.... Well, sometimes a couple, maybe a few escape.. It's only 1.77" in diameter (45mm).

Something I haven't seen mentioned of note is that there is a "Optional Warmer Target" at the beginning of the competition. Time limit is 10 minutes, no restriction on the number of rounds fired at either the splash plate and/or the actual target. Most I know use it to fine tune sighting on the plate then a test run on the fly target. Funny thing is a lot think it's unlucky if you just happen to hit a few fly's on the warmer and then none, maybe a sigh of relief for the first in the competition on an actual target.

Another point I didn't see mentioned is that during the actual competition you are allowed only 8 rounds on your shooting bench, not a box full. I think one of the commands is "display 8 rounds".

I think you guys will have a lot of fun and hope you get some practice if you are going for any of the records...like smallest group so it'll have to be under 0.9" something and best target score of 60 points, nobody has achieved a perfect 60.5 score so far.

My best so far and was at the first match I attended.... Group 1.182" Score 58.1 (best group and best target for the day) and I only came 4th place.

I might just have to come out of retirement and have another bit of fun.

BTW... 6.5x47 Lapua Stolle Grizzly II