World-Class

The 2019 Pyramyd Air Cup

I like to use a single word to define watershed events along the year but, this time, the 2019 PAC gets two words  because it will be a watershed event along the years (yes, plural).
And the reasons are simple, though not completely evident:
- It has become the largest airgun shoot in the country with about 300 entries into the three different events
- Even in just FT, it was capped at 120 shooters and the field was complete, except for some last minute drop-offs that had no "backup"/waiting list.
- It attracted more press and more media than ever before
- It has found a new venue with lots of potential
- It has started to attract formal "Teams" from the manufacturers
- It had some very high caliber international attendance (pun intended).

Of course some of this great success comes from the great prizes offered. Let's be sincere: not everyone can take an trans-Atlantic or trans-Pacific flight to shoot a few hundred pellets and then go home.
If we want the airguns sports (all of them) to grow and gain respect from the other shooting disciplines, we need to get more "professional" and the quotes are not unintentional.

I truly do NOT want ANYONE to take these statements as an endorsement of a "Savage Equipment Race". Or an endorsement of a "requirement" to offer prizes (whether cash or kind) at all regional, or national, scale matches.
On the contrary, this is a WARNING, that we (as the airgun shooters' community) will start treading the thin red line between growing the sport, and spoiling the sport.
And everyone will have different opinions and sensibilities. That is OK, we may be a great bunch, but no one has said that, individually, we are not opinionated, EVER!                           LOL!
To be able to put the discussion front and center is necessary at all levels, whether it is AAFTA, WRAB/ASA, or a nascent 100 yards Airgun Benchrest (if you want to call it 'extreme', or not, is up to you), is absolutely essential.

So, you, my dear readers, have now a role to play:
Write to the regulating boards of your choice and let them know how you feel.
Club reps will have to write to AAFTA to express what they feel about FT
Members will have to write to WRAB/ASA to express what they feel about 100 yards BR
Shooters will have to write to Pyramyd Air to express what they feel about the Gunslynger

​So, with that out of the way and without trying to repeat what other great reviews of the PAC 2019 have shown or said, let me try to transmit to you what I felt and experienced during the 5 days that the competition took.

It has become evident to me that in reality, people don't read the write-up, they want to see the pictures, so I will post the pictures and shut-up, LOL!

Tobias Schmidt (DIANA) and myself, arrived at the Cardinal Shooting Center on Wednesday night, we each had a cabin reserved. The one on the right is the "deluxe" (obviously for the boss ;-) )

Even the Std. Cabin is enough for one or two shooters, or a small family with younger kids. It's a wortwhile investment to stay at the range. We used the Thursday to work, yes, it is a requirement, these days.

Friday morning I sighted in my FT rifle and then the Gunslynger was taking place.

The field was set in relatively little time, after the BR shooting had stopped.

MD Tyler Patner explained the competition and after that, everything went smoothly. I hadn't picked my 0.20"cal. NTec D34 since the last Gunslynger and, predicatbly, it was a disaster for me, but still fun just to be there.

This year, we had the more normal basculating silhouettes that performed very well, even at the extreme power levels that are used. In PCP a lot of shooters go to the max (35 ft-lbs), but in Piston guns, you seldom see a gun yielding more than 16-17 ft-lbs. HOPEFULLY, the maker of these "banks" of silhouettes will extend the concept to the Standard 5 in line, looking to the right, and properly spaced silhouettes, as they would allow clubs to host excellent silhouette shoots with relatively little investment. After the Gunslynger, we worked some more and prepared for the next day's FT shoot.

Cardinal Center Shooting Range is a fantastic place. You surely must have read already about the size of the place, I will only add to what others have said that you can get an idea of the size when you consider that there are 2 (TWO) state routes that cross the range. Yes it is big. But that also means that MD's can have great places to put targets on. Differently from other shoots, targets were scattered and staggered, so you HAD to be IN YOUR GAME, to not skip a lane, or shoot a wrong one. Interesting twist.

The ONE path was a "longish" walk, not short, the layout presented a variety of directions and softer inclination variations. Imaginative course.

As usual in a large FT shoot, you see a lot of innovative modifications. It's part of the fun of FT.

As mentioned, the course layout allowed some variation, these are the wide open "field" type lanes, and, although they look simple, they did provide an impressive challenge to most shooter unaccustomed to shoot in partially enclosed spaces.

The "Power Piston Squad" in the shoot. Left to right: Leo Gonzales (USA, 5th in WFTC'S 2019), John Farbrother (UK, 3rd in WFTC's 2019), Ray Apelles (USA 3rd in Veteran WFTC's 2019) All of them extremely good shooters and great all-around guys.

This is Ray Apelles, in his kneeling position. Do note the SemiBull-Pup configuration in his DIY stock'ed 54 And do not that his whole position was developed to comply with the rules, but still adapt to give him stability.

Position of rear foot, position of forward hand, size of roll, length of jacket. All details that can make a "legal" shot or a shot that gets you a warning.

This is Leo Gonzales's "Free Position". Do note the position of the feet, fairly close together, flat on the ground. The rifle resting on the knee just forward of the COG, a VERY slightly crouched head and neck. Overall a stable and repeatable position

And compare it to John Farbrother's position: Wider spacing of the feet, and more flex at the ankles.

A different angle to John's position. What needs to be noted here is that part of the details of his position have evolved as an answer to the stock he is using.

To ME, the most interesting part is the grip of the stock. John commented that the oversize of the grip was on purpose, because an almost open hand, cannot "grip" the gun, and therefore there is less interference with the shot cycle.

And, of course, it is always interesting the participation of the fairer sex in the FT world.

By the end of the day, I had not done too poorly

Except on the standing lane, LOL!

In the afternoon, we took advantage of the BR finals, and in one corner of the range, we worked some more.

In the morning, after the usual Shooter's meeting, the procession to the starting lanes was well under way.

And when I say procession, I mean it.

Once everyone had arrived in their respective starting lanes, the shuffle to get organized and started got underway.

Nathan, John and the undersigned had a great time!

I'm sure the same could be said of John, Ray, and Leo.

I felt I was doing better than the day before, but then I skunked a lane and that required all my powers of self persuasion to get back on track.

Ended up 3rd and I was very surprised. Leo had two bad days, and Nathan bested me by 2 points on the second day, but he had fallen 4 points behind in the first day. Still, 3rd is not that bad. Specially for not practicing much! LOL!

After the awards ceremony, M.D. Tyler Patner thanked everyone for coming and the event was officially closed

I really don't know how, but I ended up being interviewed by the 'Airgun Exploaration and Advancement Channel' in YouTube for the "Pyramyd Air Cup.- The Movie", and it was a lot of fun working with Steve S on the filming. Steve explained clearly what he wanted on video and I do think he is a good director. Even a non-actor like me looks half good, LOL!
​See the whole film here. If you are pressed for time, skip to 1:14:35

Back home I had a chance to look closely at the prize, a Sig-Sauer ASP-20 and the cup. Every year PA outdoes itself. If you have the chance, really, do not miss the 2020 edition!

My most sincere thanks to everyone at Pyramyd Air for all they do for the airgunning community, specially for those of us that take our entertainment "seriously".

;-)

Keep well and shoot straight!