Rifle Team Weekly Happenings 2022-10-23

Hi Everyone!

I hope that everyone has had a great week and I hope that you were able to find some time this weekend to go outside and enjoy the unseasonably warm weather.   Speaking of weather....   Don't like the cold and looking for something to do 1-2 evenings per week?  Why not come down to the SDC Rifle Range?  Now featuring Heat™.

Range Time This Week:

• Monday 6pm - 10pm
• Tuesday 6pm - 10pm

What we will be working on this week:

• This week we will continue shooting our first set of Match Targets.  This week we will start shooting our Smallbore targets (And Air RIfle if you haven't shot those).
  • I realize that some of you probably don't feel you're to the point where you feel comfortable competing.   I respect that but I really encourage everyone that can to participate.  This is a multi-month competition.  If you miss one month you're disqualified from awards for the entire competition.  You can still compete the other months, but you won't be eligible for any awards.
  • You only have 5 years of collegiate eligibility.  Don't waste an entire year just because for just one month you felt like you weren't good enough.  Just try your best.  That's all you can ask from yourself.  You'll get better as the season progresses!
• Smallbore targets will take around 2-3 hours to complete (Including equipment setup & tear down), so please plan ahead.  If you arrive after 7:00, you may not have enough time to shoot the entire match.
• Air Rifle targets will take around 1.5-2 hours to complete (Including equipment setup & tear down), so please plan ahead.  If you arrive after 7:30, you may not have enough time to shoot the entire match.
• The WIRC targets are shot under NRA rules.  Unfortunately, the NRA doesn't believe in "Block Time", so I can't give you a chunk of time and say "go".  So below is what will happen for Smallbore.
  • Gather Equipment and get setup.
  • Prone - Shooters to the line called
    • 3 Minutes - Preparation Period
    • 20 Minutes - 20 record shots + Unlimited Sighting Shots.  Cannot return to the sighting area once record shots begin.
  • Target & Equipment Changeover
    
    • 3 Minute Target Change
    • 12 Minute Equipment Change
  • Standing - Shooters to the line called 
    • 3 Minutes - Preparation Period
    • 40 Minutes - 20 record shots + Unlimited Sighting Shots.  Cannot return to the sighting area once record shots begin.
  • Target & Equipment Changeover
    • 3 Minute Target Change
    • 12 Minute Equipment Change
  • Kneeling - Shooters to the line called 
    • 3 Minutes - Preparation Period
    • 30 Minutes - 20 record shots + Unlimited Sighting Shots.  Cannot return to the sighting area once record shots begin.
• I do have a time spreadsheet made up, but it's a bit too complex to just paste into an email but I anticipate calling shooters to the line to start Prone at the following times.  After prone starts the timeline above will guide.
  • 18:20, 18:45, 19:10, 19:35 (After this time you might not have enough time to complete the competition).   20:00, 20:25
• Since most of you haven't learned how to zero the rifle yet (or have the stability for it in standing), we'll go over it at the range and just do the best we can.
• Since we are shooting a competition, things will work a bit different from practice....   Even if you are just there practicing.
  • You will be given a firing point assignment.  This is so that you can set up equipment without disturbing others.
  • Conversations inside the range while shooting is happening should be kept to a minimum.
  • When you're finished with your targets they will remain downrange until the command to change targets has been given.
  • Unless the outer office door is fully shut and latched with the office acting as an airlock, Entry/Exit from the range will only be allowed when firing is not happening.
    • Do not let the doors slam!  Assist it in closing quietly.
  • Please show up 10-15 minutes early to get your equipment from the hallway and everything set up.
• If you don't want to shoot the match, or you finish your match targets and there's time left you're more than welcome to continue shooting.
• If you are interested in joining, come down to the range and try us out!  It's never too late to start!

Homework:

• None - Match Week
• Just think of a good thought / place you can just think of and come back to.

Upcoming Items:

• Next week on October 31st we might be visited by the Giant Pumpkin and his companion the Red Baron.
  • Important: This event is dependent on the SDC Range Management approving the targeting that will be used for this event.  We are still waiting on approval.
    • If we can't get the approval request forms from the SDC Range management and the targeting approved we might need to cancel this event.  Per SDC Rifle Range Rules & the SOP all targeting used at the range must be approved.
  • I've got to work out the timing and details but this event won't start until around 1830ish.
  • This event will be different from almost every other competition we will shoot. - This is an "At your own pace" multi-stage / event type thing.
    • This is a very unconventional match, and will be nothing like we've done in the past or probably will do until Thanksgiving time.
    • How it's scored is already documented but I'm keeping it secret until the start of the event for some stages, and others won't be revealed until after the event.
    • This will use both Smallbore and Air Rifle.
      • I'll supply the pellets, you supply the bullets.
    • It will take about 60-90 minutes to complete.
  • Everything will already be set up.  You'll just need to show up, move between different stations and possibly leave the range for a bit between the last 2 stages.
  • There will be a non-monetary prize for the overall winner of the event, and several of the stages.
  • If you're not comfortable walking into something blind, let me know and I'll let you know exactly what's going on.
• On November 1st we will resume normal practice, working on Standing and Kneeling.

Thank you for your attention, and have a great week!

GO HUSKIES!
- Zach