• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Tack Driver 5

Kracken McGraw said:
I was curious yesterday when some said the conditions just made them see a blank target because they couldn’t see their previous shots. We’re some scopes able to see past this, and others not?
Click to expand...
The short answer is no.

I shot at least 60% of my targets without knowing where the bullets were striking. You can sit there and stare through the scope trying to finally make out a little black speck, but in the mean time the clock is running, the wind is swirling,

My hat is off to those that actually shot decent enough to stay competitive.

The score portion was the toughest. You might be sighted in for a particular condition, hoping it will come around enough so you can at least hold dead center and hope for the best. But if that condition never comes back, you will be forced to take a guess. I won’t say educated guess, because without being able to see your sighters, you are simply guessing.

Keep in mind, for two days there was not a cloud in sight. The wind was blowing hard and switching quick. We shot six targets Saturday, which only meant we had to shoot even more targets after the mirage had become that bad. In reality, if you were on one of the final relays, you only had one target, the early morning one, in “seeable” conditions.

One good example of how it can mess with you is one of my Score Targets. I was sighted for more or less a straight away, and on that target the general condition started angling more right to left. Since I could not see my sightseers, I took an (uneducated):) guess and held two lines over to the right. The last three shots landed In the 6 ring on the far left. That‘s 12 points dropped in three shots! And I didn’t even know it until they hung the targets.

At this stage in my life, I am not a good enough shooter in this Format to analyze every little nuance that is going on within the 7 minute time limit of a match. Take away my sighters, or the ability to see what is going on at the target, and I might just as well close my eyes and squeeze hard.

Knowing how to do it and actually doing it when he says “commence fire” can be two entirely different things.

I guess you had to be there to experience how bad it was.

By the way, I use a 15x55 Nightforce Competition Scope, which has excellent glass. Turing down the power just made the target smaller. There are some scopes that I suppose will allow a little more clarity. I thought about getting one of the big Valdada models, but opted instead to pray for overcast conditions. :cool:
 
Last edited:
jackieschmidt said:
The short answer is no.

I shot at least 60% of my targets without knowing where the bullets were striking. You can sit there and stare through the scope trying to finally make out a little black speck, but in the mean time the clock is running, the wind is swirling,

My hat is off to those that actually shot decent enough to stay competitive.

The score portion was the toughest. You might be sighted in for a particular condition, hoping it will come around enough so you can at least hold dead center and hope for the best. But if that condition never comes back, you will be forced to take a guess. I won’t say educated guess, because without being able to see your sighters, you are simply guessing.

Keep in mind, for two days there was not a cloud in sight. The wind was blowing hard and switching quick. We shot six targets Saturday, which only meant we had to shoot even more targets after the mirage had become that bad. In reality, if you were on one of the final relays, you only had one target, the early morning one, in “seeable” conditions.

One good example of how it can mess with you is one of my Score Targets. I was sighted for more or less a straight away, and on that target the general condition started angling more right to left. Since I could not see my sightseers, I took an (uneducated):) guess and held two lines over to the right. The last three shots landed In the 6 ring on the far left. That‘s 12 points dropped in three shots! And I didn’t even know it until they hung the targets.

At this stage in my life, I am not a good enough shooter in this Format to analyze every little nuance that is going on within the 7 minute time limit of a match. Take away my sighters, or the ability to see what is going on at the target, and I might just as well close my eyes and squeeze hard.

I guess you had to be there to experience how bad it was.

By the way, I use a 15x55 Nightforce Competition Scope. Turing down the power just made the target smaller.
Click to expand...
Thanks Jackie for explaining that.
 
An addition to what Jackie said is the 300 meter targets are elevated in height roughly 15 plus feet behind the 300 yard line. Mirage seemed to boil in that area. Sun was behind them somewhat after first couple of relays making the target darker, like it was shaded.
 
jackieschmidt said:
The short answer is no.

I shot at least 60% of my targets without knowing where the bullets were striking. You can sit there and stare through the scope trying to finally make out a little black speck, but in the mean time the clock is running, the wind is swirling,

My hat is off to those that actually shot decent enough to stay competitive.

The score portion was the toughest. You might be sighted in for a particular condition, hoping it will come around enough so you can at least hold dead center and hope for the best. But if that condition never comes back, you will be forced to take a guess. I won’t say educated guess, because without being able to see your sighters, you are simply guessing.

Keep in mind, for two days there was not a cloud in sight. The wind was blowing hard and switching quick. We shot six targets Saturday, which only meant we had to shoot even more targets after the mirage had become that bad. In reality, if you were on one of the final relays, you only had one target, the early morning one, in “seeable” conditions.

One good example of how it can mess with you is one of my Score Targets. I was sighted for more or less a straight away, and on that target the general condition started angling more right to left. Since I could not see my sightseers, I took an (uneducated):) guess and held two lines over to the right. The last three shots landed In the 6 ring on the far left. That‘s 12 points dropped in three shots! And I didn’t even know it until they hung the targets.

At this stage in my life, I am not a good enough shooter in this Format to analyze every little nuance that is going on within the 7 minute time limit of a match. Take away my sighters, or the ability to see what is going on at the target, and I might just as well close my eyes and squeeze hard.

Knowing how to do it and actually doing it when he says “commence fire” can be two entirely different things.

I guess you had to be there to experience how bad it was.

By the way, I use a 15x55 Nightforce Competition Scope, which has excellent glass. Turing down the power just made the target smaller. There are some scopes that I suppose will allow a little more clarity. I thought about getting one of the big Valdada models, but opted instead to pray for overcast conditions. :cool:
Click to expand...
Well said Jackie! It was Tough! Glad to see you again after many years. Take care, Jim
 
jackieschmidt said:
The short answer is no.

I shot at least 60% of my targets without knowing where the bullets were striking. You can sit there and stare through the scope trying to finally make out a little black speck, but in the mean time the clock is running, the wind is swirling,

My hat is off to those that actually shot decent enough to stay competitive.

The score portion was the toughest. You might be sighted in for a particular condition, hoping it will come around enough so you can at least hold dead center and hope for the best. But if that condition never comes back, you will be forced to take a guess. I won’t say educated guess, because without being able to see your sighters, you are simply guessing.

Keep in mind, for two days there was not a cloud in sight. The wind was blowing hard and switching quick. We shot six targets Saturday, which only meant we had to shoot even more targets after the mirage had become that bad. In reality, if you were on one of the final relays, you only had one target, the early morning one, in “seeable” conditions.

One good example of how it can mess with you is one of my Score Targets. I was sighted for more or less a straight away, and on that target the general condition started angling more right to left. Since I could not see my sightseers, I took an (uneducated):) guess and held two lines over to the right. The last three shots landed In the 6 ring on the far left. That‘s 12 points dropped in three shots! And I didn’t even know it until they hung the targets.

At this stage in my life, I am not a good enough shooter in this Format to analyze every little nuance that is going on within the 7 minute time limit of a match. Take away my sighters, or the ability to see what is going on at the target, and I might just as well close my eyes and squeeze hard.

Knowing how to do it and actually doing it when he says “commence fire” can be two entirely different things.

I guess you had to be there to experience how bad it was.

By the way, I use a 15x55 Nightforce Competition Scope, which has excellent glass. Turing down the power just made the target smaller. There are some scopes that I suppose will allow a little more clarity. I thought about getting one of the big Valdada models, but opted instead to pray for overcast conditions. :cool:
Click to expand...
I would agree with Jackie, I have never been to a range with so much mirage in my entire life. Hard to make an adjustment on anything when you can't even distinguish the scoring lines on the target!
 
Many thanks to all who supported the TackDriver this past weekend. To the sponsors ( I should list them here but my finger would get tired), many, many thanks for your contributions. To the members of Mid Carolina Gun Club, thanks for giving up your outstanding facility to a bunch of ….. well, whatever’s. Again, to the members of MCGC thanks for your involvement and support. To the target crew, great job! I hope you were amply rewarded. To Jim Cline, match director, thanks for ALL your efforts. Putting on this event has got to be a true labor of love. AND the entertainment is worth the price of admission.
And last, and certainly not least, to the club members doing all the cooking and food preparation I do not have the words to express my gratitude. Every meal was superb and would deserve multi 5 star ratings. I hope I adequately thanked all when I said “I’m already signed up for next year! I’ll be back but I’m not bringing a rifle. I just want to hang out with all y’all!”
SEE Y’ALL NEXT YEAR!
Jim Bailey
 
Had a great time. Got to see some good friends again, had some good bbq, and the match ran smooth as usual. My second time, but first time shooting it. Its is definitely challenging, but I learned a bunch from the first target to the last. You are not going to learn it if you dont do it. Highly recommend attending.
 
wvlongshot said:
Tackdriver 5 was my first one. I'd heard the stories, but till ya get a taste first hand of that range, no real way to prepare. By the time first 6 targets were done all the morning smiles were done and thoughts of selling everything went thru a couple of people's minds. Mine mostly.
Click to expand...

Same here. Never shot conditions quite like that. Like Jackie, I shot about half my targets without ever seeing a single bullet hole. I need a different strategy because what I was doing did not work.

I worked my ass off prior to this match to be competitive. Humbling experience. Thank God I am hard headed. I will try again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Classified Ads

Forum statistics

Threads
165,805
Messages
2,203,355
Members
79,110
Latest member
miles813

Share This Page

Back
Top