Upside-Down Shooter

[CaptainMal]

Just got back early from the biker bar. Rain and my Harley got soaked.

I am a "nothing" when it comes to competitive shooting. Steve (BT1) and Tom Anderson run the Manatee shoots. I'm just one of the grunts that show up to enjoy. Do have decades of shooting experience, am an NRA Instructor, Range Officer and spent two decades coaching a high school shooting team in Pennsylvania. Do a lot of long-range hunting and think long-range competitive shooting is wonderful

I have never had any experience or exposure to the sanctioned shooting competitions. Literally all the events, like F Class and the short and long-range benchrest activities are completely unknown to me. I have seen some short-range BR competitions and did both photography and articles on one. Never got introduced to any of the actual organizations and that would be my fault.

To my knowledge there is no organized benchrest activity in Southwest Florida to get involved with. Not sure I want to spend the time and effort to seek out distant places where it might be going on. If there are shoots at Manatee, I'm game. Otherwise, I'm just an older, experienced shooter.

 

[LHSmith]

Thanks for the response. I may be missing something, but according to the last match results posted for a 600 yd IBS "Club" Shoot contested on 28 March 2015 you had 13 shooters. You obviously had the people to take on the responsibility of holding the match, any reason why not to go with Registered matches? Too difficult to take on long term committments? The $45 IBS annual membership fee per shooter + match shoot fee? Non-conforming equipment? Can't find a non-shooter to do scoring? Even if Manatee winds are that wicked that all hopes of shooting a record are nill, given sufficient number of competitors, shooter points will still be awarded.

 

[CaptainMal]

Cannot answer that. Steve and Tom run the show there. I would support changes. Some would not. I have never heard of a sanctioned shoot being done there. Doesn't mean they are not. I never shot in one or joined to do so. Many of us would probably have to modify our guns to do so. Most of us have tuners and brakes. Don't know if they are legal. If not, we would have to remove them and re-tune without. It can be done.

Sure would be nice for even more shooters to show up and that new back Benchrest 600 yard range to be open for us to use for shoots. Right now it's being held for the 22 and short-range benchrest shooters with us only able to practice if we push our way in.

 

[LHSmith]

Just looking through my old rule book- brakes allowed in LG, not HG -no clamshell type. LG max wt.= 17#, HG -no wt. restriction 40 cal. max.
Someone at sometime applied to the IBS to be a sanctioned venue and paid club dues.

 

[LHSmith]

^^^^^ My rulebook is #11 from 2004, I was too lazy to look it up on the IBS website. In short range BR Score, most clubs holding sanctioned matches will allow for factory class shooters to shoot alongside VFS and Hunter Class. Some even have club awards for factory class. Also a VFS or Hunter Class shooter can opt to shoot two guns in the same class, provided one gun is designated for record and the other for fun ( This would require more than one relay).
On the IBS schedule there is a factory class listed at many of the venues. Can anyone give more details on the factory class in LR?

 

[savagedasher]

A question about the setup, is there anything that restrains sideways movement of the front of the rifle? Given that this is obviously a non sanctioned match, with few rules, I love the out of the box thinking.

Added a little later: Is the bottom of the keel that has been added to the buttstock parallel to the bore?

Yes their is a step in the block with .015 tight fit. The 8''plate is tapered for a tight fit when the gun is all the way forward. Building 10'' for my Grand Sons and it will have sand bags to fit any rule. His will adjust from the center of the bore to the top.
If my rear bag had worked right and the rests weighed more I wouldn't of had to adjust between shots. The wings adjust to where it track perfect when you change elevations. The keel is 2.2 lb and tapered where it is true to the bore. The gun was on target with 2'' of recoil. Larry

 

[BoydAllen]

I admire your ingenuity. Well done! Keep us posted on future projects.

 

[snert]

Now I know why I avoid "official" matches. Sheesh! :'(

 

[LHSmith]

Now I know why I avoid "official" matches. Sheesh! :'(

Well, why don't you enlighten us. Name one competitive sport that continues to flourish without forming an organized set of rules and standards by which performance can be judged on as close to equal basis as possible. It's the best way to promote the sport. On the other hand, if you're not looking to grow the club (which is the only way to increase the level of competition) stick with the status quo. It's always nice to win on a regular basis.

 

[CatShooter]

Now I know why I avoid "official" matches. Sheesh! :'(

One can read Tolstoy's "War and Peace" in less time than it takes to read and understand the IBS rules. ;D ;D

 

[CatShooter]

"Name one competitive sport that continues to flourish..."

Well, on a serious note, is benchrest "flourishing"?? I think it is not. There is a small club in my state. Their attendance has been dwindling for many years, and the next nearest matches are 4 or more hours drive.

About 20 minutes from me, is the largest public outdoor range in New England - they used to set aside 50 (of their 120) benches, strictly for benchrest. They laid in power for moving backers, and went the whole 9 yards...

... no more, they haven't had benchrest activities there in maybe 15 years - attendance fell over the years until they could not afford to set aside the benches - attendance was abysmal.

So, how are all the rules making BR flourish??

But if you go to one of the local egg matchs (500 yds) you have to stand in line to register.

So, what is happening to benchrest, and why is it not "flourishing"??

 

[Dgd6mm]

Congratulations Larry for everything you have done and do to promote shooting. From the first time I ever stepped foot on the Manatee Gun Range you where there doing your thing, keep it up. You are known as the Savage family, out going to all and a heck of a good competitor. When I get back from out west at the end of the year I hope to get down that way and shoot with you guys, maybe get the East Coast Boys to come up.


Don Dunlap

 

[CaptainMal]

Just got "word" that Manatee will now be suspending the paper shoots for the immediate future. My suggestion is you call the club and/or check the website calendar for up-to-date information.

Sad for me because I am selfish. I enjoy shooting. Now it just may be that I caused or contributed to the suspension because of this post and the criticism that followed.

Checked the IBS shoot schedule and looked at other clubs. I see no options for long-range benchrest shoots in Florida now. Glad it's Summer and hot here. Maybe by Fall and cooler temps. that will change as "cooler" heads prevail.

 

[LHSmith]

"Name one competitive sport that continues to flourish..."

Well, on a serious note, is benchrest "flourishing"?? I think it is not. There is a small club in my state. Their attendance has been dwindling for many years, and the next nearest matches are 4 or more hours drive.

About 20 minutes from me, is the largest public outdoor range in New England - they used to set aside 50 (of their 120) benches, strictly for benchrest. They laid in power for moving backers, and went the whole 9 yards...

... no more, they haven't had benchrest activities there in maybe 15 years - attendance fell over the years until they could not afford to set aside the benches - attendance was abysmal.

So, how are all the rules making BR flourish??

But if you go to one of the local egg matchs (500 yds) you have to stand in line to register.

So, what is happening to benchrest, and why is it not "flourishing"??

Since this thread is about LR BR, 600 yd attendence was up last year, 1000 yd was nearly the same. In 600 yds there were 64 days of registered comp, in 1000 yd there were 48 days of registered comp. Comps were conducted at 12 different venues located throughout the country. No arguing group shooting is loosing ground, but short range score is holding it's own. Not aware of that many egg shoots held annually.

 

[savagedasher]

Congratulations Larry for everything you have done and do to promote shooting. From the first time I ever stepped foot on the Manatee Gun Range you where there doing your thing, keep it up. You are known as the Savage family, out going to all and a heck of a good competitor. When I get back from out west at the end of the year I hope to get down that way and shoot with you guys, maybe get the East Coast Boys to come up.


Don Dunlap

Thanks Don You and the East Coast Boys are missed. When you come I have a trailer available.
Our matches is off .It started with the powder shortage. Then we lost you and East Coast boys. The guys with the big BOOMERS realized accuracy normally trumps BC. So we lost several of them.
The biggest loss happened when a few wanted the shoot to have rules. Charley's Browns and Erick Bostrom's big gun didn't help. I knew it wasn't the gun that won matches it was the Shooter. Gong shooting is different then paper. We sighted in in calm condition and shot for a hour and a half with no more practice between.
In the 7years we never have had a perfect score on a 8'' gong at 1018 YDS. Steve came up by using the heavy gun IBS TYPE rules all the guns that we lost from the rules still can shoot.
We lost them one gun at a time with Steve's help we will bring them back the same way..
I like the idea of the new range. But is has one draw back. I cant let a New shooter shot 600 or 1000 YDS for the first time. I sure hook a few doing that.
Don have a good summer vacation and when you get back we meet up for some fun shooting like it was before. The gun in the picture is for my Grand Kids. My handle tell it all . Larry

 

[savagedasher]

Mr Smith I was polite asking you to start a post about IBS or any other competitive sport. When you do I will respond MY feelings.
The changes I made to the gun my total cost was under $50.00. Larry

 

[Eddie Harren]

The IBS has been on a crusade to commit suicide for the last 10 years or so. Whenever the shooter is handicapped by the hierarchy the popularity wanes.

 

[snert]

Now I know why I avoid "official" matches. Sheesh! :'(

Well, why don't you enlighten us. Name one competitive sport that continues to flourish without forming an organized set of rules and standards by which performance can be judged on as close to equal basis as possible. It's the best way to promote the sport. On the other hand, if you're not looking to grow the club (which is the only way to increase the level of competition) stick with the status quo. It's always nice to win on a regular basis.

Respectful PM inbound

Regards, Snert

 

[savagedasher]

Thanks all . The response I got I have applied for a Patten on the product. If some want to try the product for evaluation. Larry8822@ AOL Larry

 

[Eddie Harren]

Better'n the funny papers!