Shooting FT with a CCA/DIANA 430L
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am liking this "Simple FT" thing!
So, I decided to shoot the Maryland State Championship 2021 edition, with the same CCA/DIANA 430L, the excellent Vortex Optics Diamondback Tactical FFP 6-24 X 50 FFP EBR2C mrad and the very consistent H&N Baracuda FT (4.51/9.57) pellets.
I THINK the system acquitted itself quite nicely, as can be seen from the Match Results:
So, I decided to shoot the Maryland State Championship 2021 edition, with the same CCA/DIANA 430L, the excellent Vortex Optics Diamondback Tactical FFP 6-24 X 50 FFP EBR2C mrad and the very consistent H&N Baracuda FT (4.51/9.57) pellets.
I THINK the system acquitted itself quite nicely, as can be seen from the Match Results:
To put this in context:
Shooting from an industrial/floorer knee pad, with no straps, jacket, or special stock (no hook, hamster, nor heavy weight) and a 24X scope, no clicking; this gun's 52 points was highest among spring-piston shooters, and only 4 points behind the only other score in the WFTF Division.
And the power level did play an important role in this match, as several targets failed to fall with the sub 12 ft-lbs hits if the hit was lower into the KZ, or if it was at the farthest reaches.
This is the second match I shoot with this system, so I am now more familiar with the trajectory and the wind drift.
Reading into my D.O.P.E.:
Shooting from an industrial/floorer knee pad, with no straps, jacket, or special stock (no hook, hamster, nor heavy weight) and a 24X scope, no clicking; this gun's 52 points was highest among spring-piston shooters, and only 4 points behind the only other score in the WFTF Division.
And the power level did play an important role in this match, as several targets failed to fall with the sub 12 ft-lbs hits if the hit was lower into the KZ, or if it was at the farthest reaches.
This is the second match I shoot with this system, so I am now more familiar with the trajectory and the wind drift.
Reading into my D.O.P.E.:
It is clear that the small KZ's at short range are not as high a challenge as the long shots.
With a humble piston sporter, the success rate at the near targets was 79%, while the success at the far targets was only 67%.
A small explanation of all the info that goes into the DOPE might be useful:
P=position (Free, Standing, or Kneeling); R=Range (in meters), S=score.
By not putting down the hits you mentally challenge yourself to keep the card "clean".
Paper is waterproof and you write with either a "Sharpie", or pencil, to keep the whole thing waterproof.
The little dots by the "zeroes" is the believed POI for that miss.
The small "P"s means that I protested the target.
Notes are important, and I try to put them down just after the shoot, so I don't forget things.
EG: The far target on lane 5 was suspected by Keith Walters (my shooting squad mate) to be illegal, when ranged and the KZ measured through the reticle, I thought it was about a 53 TDR (½ mrad @ 32 meters is about 5/8" at 35 yards), when the targets were brought in I measured the KZ at 18 mm's (my pocketknife has a mm's ruler LOL!) so, a bit less, but very close the max stated in page 6, "Targets", Section "I" of the new rules (Feb 2021).
Keith brought it down, TWICE! He is a great shooter (together with Brian Van Lieuw, they posted the highest scores of the match; great shooting in anyone's book!), hopefully he will make the switch to WFTF after the end of the season, as the 2024 World's are slated to be held in the USA and it would be interesting to have him there.
So, the shoot was not an easy one, the scope was ranging accurately (within 1 meter either way), the rifle was putting the BFT's where it was aimed, and I was very happy with the performance of the system.
Now let's see some pictures:
With a humble piston sporter, the success rate at the near targets was 79%, while the success at the far targets was only 67%.
A small explanation of all the info that goes into the DOPE might be useful:
P=position (Free, Standing, or Kneeling); R=Range (in meters), S=score.
By not putting down the hits you mentally challenge yourself to keep the card "clean".
Paper is waterproof and you write with either a "Sharpie", or pencil, to keep the whole thing waterproof.
The little dots by the "zeroes" is the believed POI for that miss.
The small "P"s means that I protested the target.
Notes are important, and I try to put them down just after the shoot, so I don't forget things.
EG: The far target on lane 5 was suspected by Keith Walters (my shooting squad mate) to be illegal, when ranged and the KZ measured through the reticle, I thought it was about a 53 TDR (½ mrad @ 32 meters is about 5/8" at 35 yards), when the targets were brought in I measured the KZ at 18 mm's (my pocketknife has a mm's ruler LOL!) so, a bit less, but very close the max stated in page 6, "Targets", Section "I" of the new rules (Feb 2021).
Keith brought it down, TWICE! He is a great shooter (together with Brian Van Lieuw, they posted the highest scores of the match; great shooting in anyone's book!), hopefully he will make the switch to WFTF after the end of the season, as the 2024 World's are slated to be held in the USA and it would be interesting to have him there.
So, the shoot was not an easy one, the scope was ranging accurately (within 1 meter either way), the rifle was putting the BFT's where it was aimed, and I was very happy with the performance of the system.
Now let's see some pictures:
Apoogies for the lack of focus, my 5 YO son had set the waterproof camera to "Macro" ROFL! But the picture does show the type of weather we encountered on arrival.
The shooting line was well populated. I need to get one of these umbrellas. Though I am not sure how one can take something like this to an International Match. LOL!
Zoomed in view of a typical lane. Apologies for the blurry picture, but the waterproof camera does not have a good zoom.
Keith's offhand position, a lot to learn from this picture.
A zoomed in detail of the offhand lane arrangement.
A typical "free position" lane.
Some pictures of the lanes:
I know the system can shoot better, got most of my kneelers and half the standers; and I also realize that towards the end of the shoot (we started on lane 10), some fatigue was setting in, so further work into the cocking linkage has to be done to improve that.
It has also been an interesting "trip" to shoot the H&N BFT's; they are not for every barrel but, when you find a barrel that shoots them well, even at 730 fps, they can hold their own.
AND, this also shows that "simple" equipment can take you far in the FT game. That the FT game is not about power, but about accuracy, precision and Marksmanship.
So, next time you have the opportunity to go to a shoot, just "giddy-up-go" because you are sure to have fun, learn more than a few things, and meet some great people!
Keep well and shoot straight!
HM
It has also been an interesting "trip" to shoot the H&N BFT's; they are not for every barrel but, when you find a barrel that shoots them well, even at 730 fps, they can hold their own.
AND, this also shows that "simple" equipment can take you far in the FT game. That the FT game is not about power, but about accuracy, precision and Marksmanship.
So, next time you have the opportunity to go to a shoot, just "giddy-up-go" because you are sure to have fun, learn more than a few things, and meet some great people!
Keep well and shoot straight!
HM
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