ShotMarker Fun And Games

[DRNewcomb]

At today's F-Class match we had some fun and games with the ShotMarker electronic target system.
The match was 600 yds and the club's system was set up at that range.
A member owns a personal ShotMarker system and wanted to shoot 1000 yds, (which we don't normally use) so the match director let him set up his system at 1000.
This is where the fun and games began. The club's access point simply would not work. The spare would not work. Great consternation ensued. Calls to Adam, system reconfiguration, etc.
Finally someone read the manual all the way through. On the last page it explains that two systems can't work on the same channel within range of each other. Restoration of the original configuration and rechanneling of the personal system followed and after about an hour's delay everything was copacetic and the match could begin.

Moral of story. You can't just run two ShotMarker target systems near each other without assuring there is no channel conflict.

Moral 2. If you ever really want to screw up a match that uses ShotMarker. Just leave an access point running in your car on the same channel that the match's system uses.

 

[Walt Krafft]

Yes, have seen that. Also good idea to put your name on your access and target modules. They all look the same in a pile.

 

[GSS]

LOL
When all else fails,,, Read the Directions

 

[F Class John]

Yeah it’ll be interesting as these really start taking off with personal use because all it’ll take is more than four people at a range and mayhem will ensue...

As it is I regularly shoot 1000yd most Thursdays and there’s usually 2-3 of us with shotmarkers. Yes I know there’s ways around it and such but it can be confusing and frustrating for people if they don’t understand it. Hopefully more channels become available somehow in the future.

 

[DRNewcomb]

The other thing about ShotMarker (and I assume this applies to most electronic target systems) is that the bullets have to stay supersonic until they hit. One of the two shooters using the system at 1000 yds couldn't register any hits with his .308, despite being seen tracking in through spotting scopes. The assumption was that his rounds went subsonic just before hitting the target. I think if the club starts shooting 1000 regularly, as is the plan, someone may have to stay in the 1000 yd pits to help shooters know if they're hitting, at least for the first few matches.

 

[Bisson1990]

LOL
When all else fails,,, Read the Directions

Just don't let your wife see you doing it - that is almost as bad as asking for directions

 

[NZ_Fclass]

The other thing about ShotMarker (and I assume this applies to most electronic target systems) is that the bullets have to stay supersonic until they hit. One of the two shooters using the system at 1000 yds couldn't register any hits with his .308, despite being seen tracking in through spotting scopes. The assumption was that his rounds went subsonic just before hitting the target. I think if the club starts shooting 1000 regularly, as is the plan, someone may have to stay in the 1000 yd pits to help shooters know if they're hitting, at least for the first few matches.

Or put some more powder in it! Seriously, FTR loads for the 308 should be able to stay supersonic at 1000. We have shooters using 185g achieving it every week on Silver Mountain targets.

 

[DRNewcomb]

Or put some more powder in it! Seriously, FTR loads for the 308 should be able to stay supersonic at 1000. We have shooters using 185g achieving it every week on Silver Mountain targets.

The shooter in question acknowledged that he probably had a problem with the loads he was using. It's the first time there's been a scoring system set up at 1000 yards on that range in some time. Previously, they've set up a target with a target camera, just for fun.

Long story, short. The 1000 yd pits were actually built, by a handshake agreement, on the neighbor's property, at a time of cordial relations. The owner died and the land fell into the estate who's heirs didn't talk to each other, let alone to the club. The 1000 yd range fell into disrepair. Through a long and tortuous negotiation the club finally managed to purchase the land and is now rehabilitating the 1000 yd line. We're all a bit out of practice.

 

[243Mendoza]

Yeah it’ll be interesting as these really start taking off with personal use because all it’ll take is more than four people at a range and mayhem will ensue...

As it is I regularly shoot 1000yd most Thursdays and there’s usually 2-3 of us with shotmarkers. Yes I know there’s ways around it and such but it can be confusing and frustrating for people if they don’t understand it. Hopefully more channels become available somehow in the future.

Or you can go SOLO with unlimited 'channels'.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Well done. We lost our range a ouple years ago, so we had one summer of shooting at other clubs. Last year we found another, and in some ways, it's better, as all ranges are shot from the same firing point. We have 2 targets at each distance ( 3,5,6,8 and 1000 yds) All electronic.

I do enyoy shooting my 223 at the short ranges, but as you suggest, keeping it fast at the longs, is the domain of the 308. (155 lapua 46.5 Varget, Lapua sp brass)