The Welsh, that are already planning the 2017 World’s have, IMHO, an accurate perception that in most places, Field Target is really “Forest Target”.
And oftentimes I’ve heard shooters that have not participated in a specific event disparage a shoot that took place in an open field as a “bowling alley” shoot.
Well, the reality is that an open field is never TRULY open, there are always clumps of vegetation, small undulations in the terrain, trees here and there can create really interesting swirls, and a point often overlooked is that when it is windy, it is windy for the WHOLE course.
Of course the forest courses have their charms and challenges as well. If you do not know the layout of the land, the natural “avenues” that get carved in the forest by wildlife (whether four legged or two) create special wind funnels that can accelerate the average/general wind speed by factors of 3 or 4.
If, on the open Field course you set the wind machine to variable with the possibility of coming from all angles (from straight ahead to right from behind and all in between), you have the recipe for a really tough match.
This is more or less what happened in the Massachusetts Bay Colony Challenge (MBCC), not by design but by fate.
For a few years, Matt and Len Sawyer, and later with the help of John Eroh; have been putting on exceptionally tough courses at the side of the Archery range of Mass Rifle (the oldest Rifle Club in continuous operation in the US), located in Woburn Mass. We usually shoot what the Welsh would call Forest Target: targets in trees, in logs, on berms, sprinkled here and there, usually more ”way over there” than “here”, but it is all in the fun. When targets are placed in trees that sway with the wind, THEN it gets really funny . . . LOL!
Anyway, it was a great surprise to find out that the whole section of land that we had been using for our Forest Target (FT) had been taken over by machines, all the trees had been removed and that the nice lanes so lovingly prepared had been dozed over. Instead, we would be shooting in the shotgun trap range:
And oftentimes I’ve heard shooters that have not participated in a specific event disparage a shoot that took place in an open field as a “bowling alley” shoot.
Well, the reality is that an open field is never TRULY open, there are always clumps of vegetation, small undulations in the terrain, trees here and there can create really interesting swirls, and a point often overlooked is that when it is windy, it is windy for the WHOLE course.
Of course the forest courses have their charms and challenges as well. If you do not know the layout of the land, the natural “avenues” that get carved in the forest by wildlife (whether four legged or two) create special wind funnels that can accelerate the average/general wind speed by factors of 3 or 4.
If, on the open Field course you set the wind machine to variable with the possibility of coming from all angles (from straight ahead to right from behind and all in between), you have the recipe for a really tough match.
This is more or less what happened in the Massachusetts Bay Colony Challenge (MBCC), not by design but by fate.
For a few years, Matt and Len Sawyer, and later with the help of John Eroh; have been putting on exceptionally tough courses at the side of the Archery range of Mass Rifle (the oldest Rifle Club in continuous operation in the US), located in Woburn Mass. We usually shoot what the Welsh would call Forest Target: targets in trees, in logs, on berms, sprinkled here and there, usually more ”way over there” than “here”, but it is all in the fun. When targets are placed in trees that sway with the wind, THEN it gets really funny . . . LOL!
Anyway, it was a great surprise to find out that the whole section of land that we had been using for our Forest Target (FT) had been taken over by machines, all the trees had been removed and that the nice lanes so lovingly prepared had been dozed over. Instead, we would be shooting in the shotgun trap range:
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It turns out that the land we had been shooting into was the site of the famous Woburn Groundwater Contamination Incident (if you are interested in details, read the book or watch the film “A Civil Action”), a heavily polluted site from industrial wastes of years gone by.
So, the field was set up in the “Bowling Alley” style and we shot out into the Trap Range.
Twenty Two shooters showed up for the first leg of the GP, after registration and signature of waivers and legalities, and an hour of sighting in, a shooters meeting was called and after the customary safety and precautionary admonitions had been given, as well as a shooting order (near to far), the shooters lined up to take their “for score” shots.
So, the field was set up in the “Bowling Alley” style and we shot out into the Trap Range.
Twenty Two shooters showed up for the first leg of the GP, after registration and signature of waivers and legalities, and an hour of sighting in, a shooters meeting was called and after the customary safety and precautionary admonitions had been given, as well as a shooting order (near to far), the shooters lined up to take their “for score” shots.
The sun was relentless and the black tarmac did not provide any relief to the shooters. Then the wind kicked in. Notice how the yellow “police tape” that was staked to the ground at both ends curves with the wind at ground level. At a little above that, it was more than noticeable.
Estimated winds of up to 15 mph were present; probably more important than the intensity was the fact that at times it came from the front, at times from the back, and it switched around constantly.
Seeing pellets hit a good ¼ mrad (about 1 MOA) higher than expected was an enlightening experience.
Estimated winds of up to 15 mph were present; probably more important than the intensity was the fact that at times it came from the front, at times from the back, and it switched around constantly.
Seeing pellets hit a good ¼ mrad (about 1 MOA) higher than expected was an enlightening experience.
As always, it was very nice to see young shooters being well schooled by the more veteran ones. Let’s hope that as Mia grows her love and appreciation for the sport will grow also.
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When all the shots had been taken, for the tallying of the scores, reinforcements arrived:
And when all the scores had been checked and re-counted we had two shoot-offs.
The rules call for Hunter shooters to go first when squads are mixed, so we applied the rule and called Dave Bingham and Thomas Wade to the shoot-off line, where two identical targets had been placed side by side at an unknown distance (both targets had been moved from their original Match position).
The rules call for Hunter shooters to go first when squads are mixed, so we applied the rule and called Dave Bingham and Thomas Wade to the shoot-off line, where two identical targets had been placed side by side at an unknown distance (both targets had been moved from their original Match position).
The shooters were given time to setup and after all the preparations had been done (up to and including range finding), the command to cock and load was given and then one minute was allowed to take the shot.
On the first round both shooters missed the target.
A second chance was given, time for preparation was allowed and when ready, the command to cock and load was given and then a minute allowed to take the shot. Dave Bingham shot first and downed the target; Tom took a breath, released his shot and missed.
Therefore Dave placed first on this leg.
Now the shooters of WFTF Piston had to shoot it off, to the line were called Leo Gonzalez and Matt Brackett:
On the first round both shooters missed the target.
A second chance was given, time for preparation was allowed and when ready, the command to cock and load was given and then a minute allowed to take the shot. Dave Bingham shot first and downed the target; Tom took a breath, released his shot and missed.
Therefore Dave placed first on this leg.
Now the shooters of WFTF Piston had to shoot it off, to the line were called Leo Gonzalez and Matt Brackett:
Time was given for preparation up to and including range finding, after which the command to cock and load was given.
First shot, again, they both missed, so the round was repeated.
Next shot first one, and then the other, took down the target, so still no conclusion.
The command to kneel, as is customary in WFTF shootoffs, was issued. After changing position and getting ready, the command to cock and load was given and one minute was allowed to take the shot.
In quick succession, both shooters got the target down.
Still following WFTF style, the command to stand was issued.
First shot, again, they both missed, so the round was repeated.
Next shot first one, and then the other, took down the target, so still no conclusion.
The command to kneel, as is customary in WFTF shootoffs, was issued. After changing position and getting ready, the command to cock and load was given and one minute was allowed to take the shot.
In quick succession, both shooters got the target down.
Still following WFTF style, the command to stand was issued.
After preparations, and commands, both shooters missed.
And then again.
And then again.
So, following WFTF practices, the distance was reduced by 10 yards.
Because the line was cold, we decided to advance the shooters, better than bringing forward the targets.
After preparations and, once the OK to shoot was given, Leo took a deep breath and released his shot; target fell down. Matt concentrated and released his shot, but missed.
It is worthwhile to note that the two targets were set at 51 yards, with the wind blowing as it was; it was truly good shooting form from all 4 shooters.
We all had fun, enjoyed the outdoors and each other’s company. Talk was abundant and interesting; some of it was extremely funny. It was nice to see Dave B and Steve G, and other shooters we do not generally see. And it was an excellent preparation towards the World’s in Portugal.
True “FIELD” Target.
So, after the first day, standings were:
And then again.
And then again.
So, following WFTF practices, the distance was reduced by 10 yards.
Because the line was cold, we decided to advance the shooters, better than bringing forward the targets.
After preparations and, once the OK to shoot was given, Leo took a deep breath and released his shot; target fell down. Matt concentrated and released his shot, but missed.
It is worthwhile to note that the two targets were set at 51 yards, with the wind blowing as it was; it was truly good shooting form from all 4 shooters.
We all had fun, enjoyed the outdoors and each other’s company. Talk was abundant and interesting; some of it was extremely funny. It was nice to see Dave B and Steve G, and other shooters we do not generally see. And it was an excellent preparation towards the World’s in Portugal.
True “FIELD” Target.
So, after the first day, standings were:
We all adjourned and prepared for the drive to Maine.
Next morning saw 15 shooters preparing to face the challenge of the course. Again signatures, score cards and waivers were processed and sighting in began.
Next morning saw 15 shooters preparing to face the challenge of the course. Again signatures, score cards and waivers were processed and sighting in began.
We had an unexpected visitor:
Someone mentioned quail, others said it was a northern flicker, in the end it was a Chukar Partridge. But the show had to go on and so we tackled the lanes.
What is not visible in above picture is that there are two targets, one on the ground and one through a window:
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Other lanes were just as challenging:
Near target in above lane
Mid Target
Far target
And along the lanes, lots of small KZ’s, as well as very long shots:
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As per my notes, this lane had a 17m, a 44m and a 50 m targets.
We all had fun.
One particular lane had one target at a high angle.
Not this one:
Not this one:
The next one was at a measured 32 degrees of inclination.
And there was another one at 25 degrees in another lane; can you see the two elevated targets???
And there was another one at 25 degrees in another lane; can you see the two elevated targets???
Some shots challenged the ability of the shooter to simply get into position.
Youngsters did quite well:
By the end of the rifle shoot, we were all hungry. Bill and Doreen, as always, provided excellent food, even with special portions for those of us that cannot have pork/bacon. THANKS! That was greatly appreciated.
After lunch, while the rifle scores were being tallied, the second half of the pistol shoot took place:
After lunch, while the rifle scores were being tallied, the second half of the pistol shoot took place:
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When everything was said and done, the rifle score totals were:
And the pistol final scores were:
Some of you may feel the scores are low, but that is quite understandable when you see the design layouts:
This is not the order in which we shot the course; it just reflects the standard course planner’s discipline positions.
While a 35.8 may not sound as much, once you add that variable wind, the whole course gets affected and rises to 44.75
The Layout for the Maine course was:
While a 35.8 may not sound as much, once you add that variable wind, the whole course gets affected and rises to 44.75
The Layout for the Maine course was:
But, since only SOME of the targets were really affected by the wind, the rise from the design point was not as high.
The Pistol course was as hard, if not harder:
The Pistol course was as hard, if not harder:
I have never understood too well the 1.75, but it is widely accepted and official, so it is used here.
It was a full weekend of intense competition, rising challenges and defying the wind, long drives and relentless heat and wear on the shooters and the equipment. But it was also a weekend of exemplary camaraderie, good humor, interesting learning experiences and meeting with people we like and appreciate. Not everyone could stay for lunch, then the pistol shoot and then the scores, but we really did enjoy everyone’s attendance.
Greetings from the airgunners in New England!
It was a full weekend of intense competition, rising challenges and defying the wind, long drives and relentless heat and wear on the shooters and the equipment. But it was also a weekend of exemplary camaraderie, good humor, interesting learning experiences and meeting with people we like and appreciate. Not everyone could stay for lunch, then the pistol shoot and then the scores, but we really did enjoy everyone’s attendance.
Greetings from the airgunners in New England!
Two very happy and tired Match Directors:
Special thanks to Sam Wolkoff for pulling photographer duty for the Match!
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