First invitation only shoot Perth 26th Nov 2016

Thought I would include the very first invitational shoot that I attended on the 26th Nov in Perth there were 40 shooters with that number competing in the first 2 events and about 25 in the Lowndes.
It was a very hot 40 degrees Celcius on the day which made transporting your gear all over the range by shanks pony a bit of a process given the age of some of us!

For the "West Australian" it was fairly bright and those of us not to familiar with the type D had a few issues at 300yds estimating the 6 oclock hold for CM hit given we practice on half silhouettes. I used my Standard Service Rifle as issued a 1942 Savage No.4 load was 46gn 2209 with 174gn SMK.
The MacCarthy ~ was the sniper ones at 600yds to which I was going to use my Sniper T but as we could only shoot it once each event I chose my APRS .308 in Tactical class.
They only gave you 2 minutes to get ready so the guy in front had to move quick as it ate into your prep time which in my case I forgot a vital piece of setting up the rifle.

I hit a 4 on my first shot at 3 o'clock just out of the 5 ring (The rifle is calibrated for my reloads from 100-1000yds in 10yd increments with spin drift as well) the 2nd was a 5 as was the 3rd so I decided to continue scoring for the remaining 8 rounds for the 10 consecutive scoring shots as per program rules.
Shots No.'s 4, 5 were 5's the 6th I called an 11 o'clock 4 which it was just out of the 5 ring 7, 8, 9, 10 were 5's I was lucky the mirage L-R was constant so I put the rounds out fast to keep to the conditions (I ended up with 3.5 MOA left ~ 21 inches aim off tells you how fast the mirage was running for 600 yds). Finished with a 49/50 the highest score, the one I dropped was I forgot to raise the cheek rest before commencing the shoot so had a rather indifferent cheek weld throughout the detail which cost me that 4.

The Simo Haya I dropped 2 points for the first 2 strings then when going to the unsupported I found to my dismay I did not have the sling tight enough though (No bi-pod) in all fairness I had a nice 3 shot group witnessed by the scorer on the electronic target that was @ 3" only thing was they were in the 3 ring just outside the 4 at 3:00 o'clock.
So with that fopar I still managed to squeak it home which is testament that I in the words of one of our elder shooters had A) A forgiving Rifle with B) Forgiving ammunition......

I started the last one the Lowndes but retired even though I had (thought) managed my water intake well drinking 8 x 600ml bottles I got the early stages of heat stress so had to stop. Dammit.......

All in all it was a great shoot with some very good shooters it was well run, all of us were very privileged to have been shooting on that range all the funds raised went to a worthy cause.

At the end of the day I finished in first place in two of the 3 events for my class entered;
"The West Australian" Standard Service Rifle as issued &
"The MacCarthy" Tactical well worth the 392 klm round trip drive so I am pretty happy with that effort.

Also just for forumer's information there were no semi auto's at the shoot, we are forbidden to own such things so everyone was using bolt guns, Enfields, K98's, K31, M17, Repro '03 snipers cannot remember if there was a Mosin there.

I included the program in case you may wish to run the format as a fun shoot at your club just a thought.

Invitational Shooting Program

The SSSC invites those from all Associations to participate in a one day Service / Sniper rifle competition.
The matches are loosely aligned with Service Rifle and the ADF. They are designed to challenge marksmanship on the range and in the field.
Security will check off names and issue visitor passes as required.
Classes of rifles:
1. Service rifles; “Standard service rifles” and “Modified” service rifles;
2. F1; vintage sniper rifles before Jan 1, 1946;
3. F2; Sniper rifles as issued or faithful reproductions post Jan 1, 1946;
4. T; Tactical rifles of any calibre* with scope. Max weight of the rifle is not to exceed 7kg**. Barrel length is not to exceed 26” and only field grade bipods and bean bags may be used.
*.338LM and above is not permitted.
** 7kg, including scope, bolt and empty mag (not including bipod or sling).
Rifles will be scrutineered and classed prior to the matches commencing.
Any profits raised will be passed onto the SSSC nominated charities, Legacy, SAS Resources Trust, SASR Museum and the Australian SAS Association. Any queries ring Frank on - or email as above. Proof of Association membership is to be available on request. Payment will be accepted on the day.

Trophies: Trophies will be awarded to First place in;
1. “The Western Australian” Service rifle, Standard division;
2. “The MacCarthy” Sniper rifle, F1,F2 & T; and
3. “The Lowndes” Sniper rifle, F1, F2 & T.
All paid-up participants in the days shooting will receive a memento of their attendance.
Targetry: “The West Australian” and “The MacCarthy” matches will be shot on electronic NATO type D targets.
Targets for the “Lowndes” are steel silhouette spinner targets.

Match 1. “The West Australian” (Modified SSAA Combined Services core match)
Shot at 300,200 &100 yards on electronic NATO Type D target, requiring approx. 40 rounds.

At 300 yards, on the command “Fire” shooters will have 4 minutes to fire any number of sighters they require, then 10 scoring shots prone unsupported within that specified 4 minutes.
Unload, inspect weapons and move forward.

At 200 yards, the shooter will, on command, fire 5 shots sitting, kneeling or squat unsupported then, with the rifle in the unloaded state whilst moving to the next firing position, fire 5 shots in the prone. The order of shooting positions is the firer’s choice.
Unload, inspect weapons and move forward.
Time allowed for this section of the shoot is 2 minutes.

At 100 yards, the shooter will, on command, fire 5 shots sitting, kneeling or squat, then with the rifle in the unloaded state whilst changing position, fire 5 shots in the prone and then with the rifle in the unloaded state whilst changing position, fire 5 shots in the standing. The sequence of firing positions is the firer’s choice.
Time allowed for this section of the shoot is 4 minutes.
Unload and inspect weapons, move off the mound, Match 1 is complete.

Notes: Time start and stop will be by the commands “Fire” and “Cease fire”. A “One minute to go” warning will be issued at the 300-yard practice.
The shooter must nominate when his ten consecutive scoring shots begin, e.g. “OK ready, scored shots now”.
At 200 and 100 yards shooters will not have access to their screens.
Range commands will be Load, Action, Instant, Fire, Cease fire, Unload and inspect.

Match 2. “The MacCarthy”
A sniper rifle practice shot at 600 yards (548 metres) on NATO Type D electronic target with real time display of fall of shot.

Part A. ‘Billy Sing’.

(Min 10 rounds, with no round limit)
10 minutes to shoot as many rounds the shooter wants, including 10 consecutive shots to score. At some stage during the 10 minutes the shooter indicates to the scorer when he is ready to commence the 10 scoring shots.

Part B. ‘Simo Häyhä’.

(10 rounds, no sighters)
4 shots, prone supported, in 40 seconds. On command.
3 shots, prone supported, in 15 seconds. On command.
3 shots, prone unsupported, in 30 seconds (starting from the rest position). On command.

Match 3. “The Lowndes”

A Sniper field firing practice on steel reactive targets shot at varying ranges from 250 – 650 metres. Shooters will be given a range card upon registration which will give detail on the targets, their locations and ranges from the firing point. Shooters will require 12 rounds and all necessary equipment to be transportable for the match. Shooters will need to know their sight settings prior to the match. It is recommended shooters operate in pairs to help each other attain best results.

• Shooters/teams will be brought forward to a holding area near the firing points with all weapons, ammunition and accessories required to complete the practice;
• Once called forward to a firing point, shooters will receive a brief from a Range Officer on safety / conditions for the match and answer questions;
• When the shooters/teams are ready, the RO will call “prep time starts now”. At that point, shooters will have two minutes to set up and be ready to commence the match;
• After the command to load, action, instant, the order to “fire” will start the match; shooter will have 6 minutes to engage six targets as per the range card, in order 1-6, left to right.
• One of the firing team are to call the target to be engaged to the Match Spotters ensuring they are observing the correct target
• Match spotters will call a “hit” or a “miss” and record scores;
• If a shooter hits on the first round (score 5) change target, reset and carry on;
• If a shooter misses on the first round, he will be allowed to reset and fire a second round at that target (score is 2 for a hit);
• If the shooter misses with the second round, no further shooting will be allowed at the missed target. The shooter is to reset and move on to the next target;
• At six minutes the RO will call cease fire, unload and inspect.
• Match complete.