Anyone here try this yet?

[taylorce1]

Anyone try this yet? The NRA Whittington Center Sporting Rifle Match, sure looks like a good way to kill a couple of days shooting. They run the match monthly Feb-Sep. I can't find out the target sizes but looks like you shoot them from 175 yards out to 875 yards.

I'm thinking a fast twist .243 Win running some heavy bullets would be the trick. Since it is limited to calibers .243/6mm through .308 and MV of 3200 fps or less. That way I can shoot 60 rounds without a brake and still have a shoulder left at the end of the day. That would leave POP and his Bee's hanging that is for sure!

Now I just have to figure out a scope, been looking at the Leupold MK 4 LR/T in 4.5-14X50 or a Zeiss Conquest of the same power. Think I'll slap a new McGowen pre-fit on one of my Savages with a 1:8 twist. Go start slinging lead down range learn to twist some knobs and hopefully be ready to go by April or May's competition.

Raton is only a couple of hours from here down I25 should make for a fun weekend!

 

[Polaris]

That would be a lot of fun with my PSL. I'd have to get an exemption for the .311 bore though.
With the distances involved, I think a 260 rem or 6.5x284 would be ideal. 7mm08 or 280 rem with match bullets might be interesting too.

 

[Powerstroke]

Wow -
Looks like a lot of fun and fairly close !
If you google 6.5x47 Lapua there is quite a bit of info on this type of shooting.

 

[taylorce1]

I got some more info from a guy named Zak Smith who lives in the Ft Collins/Loveland area:

Hi everyone,

This match was established in 2004 by Mike Kolar with the help of other local Colorado (mostly Denver-area) shooters who had an interest in field long-range shooting (lots of overlap with the 3-Gunners). My memory of the specifics is a little dim at this point, but I believe over a dozen shooters contributed money to fund the start-up costs (targets and stands) and about a half dozen were involved in physically setting up the course. Since there, there has been a cadre of 4-6 people who have been primarily responsible for making the match happen. This includes primarily Mike Kolar, M. Field, C. Ward, with others helping on and off. I was one of the original stake-holders and helpers (though in the last couple years my time to help has been somewhat limited by other commitments). I fund and run the match web site and have the majority of the media materials we've developed there (photos, references to match, etc).

The purpose for the match at the time it was developed was to provide another venue - one that was closer to Denver and potentially more sustainable - where we could practice field-style long-range shooting of the type characterized by the ITRC and the Blue Steel Ranch Steel Safari. It is not identical to those matches, but the idea was to develop a "local" monthly match with as many of the same challenges as were logistically practical. Some of the original "limiting" rules were due to selling it as a "hunting" match, which was a political necessity at the time due to NRAWC leadership.

The match is not an NRA concept, nor is it linked in any way to the NRA-HP "Sporting Rifle" class. Its name is completely due to the political issue I referred to above. The match staff completely runs the match and it has been 100% funded by its shooters. All the money that comes in goes to the NRAWC other than a small amount held back for target repair and replacement, and a small allotment for prizes.

The 2006 Practical Rifle Team Challenge (PRTC) match used the east half of the SRM course - with some modifications - as the longest stage of that match.

The SRM has a mostly constant set of stages, set in the field. We adjust stages to improve the match at the rate of about 1-2 stages changed per year. The match as it stands now is technically easier than it was in 2004-2005, when the majority of the shots could not be taken from the prone position. However, competition now is much more fierce.

The SRM is meant to be a "monthly" match, but due to conflicts with hunting season at NRAWC, it is currently held monthly February through September.

To answer the title question-- yes, there are a lot of people shooting this match. There is a constant contingent of Front Range shooters who come down to every match, and in the last couple years we have seen groups drive over from KS, TX, and OK. There are some WY and NM shooters as well. You'll find more of them posting about it over on SnipersHide. For example, this SH thread has been going on since 2006
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=695870&page=1
The SRM web site contains a lot of information, and if some information is not posted, it's probably because it's doesn't matter (in digital design, we call it a "don't care"). Target sizes are not specified because there are variety of target sizes and the information is not provided. It so happens that there are basically two sizes of targets,

1. approx 6" diameter circles, or diamonds with the same surface area

2. approx 10" diameter circles, or diamonds with the same surface area

There is one larger target at 875 yards. It is more like 14x18, or larger. I can't remember off the top of my head. It's pretty big. Definitely a reasonable size for that distance if you get the wind call right.

As far as equipment (including optics and rifle), the Sporting Rifle Match was one of the primary experiences - along with the ITRC, PRTC, and Steel Safari - I used to write the 3-article series on practical long-range rifle shooting. Actually, all the articles I've written about field long-range shooting are directly applicable to the SRM-- so my best advice is already detailed there.

 

[Woodycreek]

Everyone should shoot at the Whittington Center atleast one time. You can shoot just about anything at about any range at that place. I went in 1994 with the Va Hunter Ed team for the Hunter Ed Nationals.

 

[OregonCoyoteKiller]

Midsouth shooters supply has VX-3 6.5-20 AO for $648
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i ... 0002466550

 

[taylorce1]

Midsouth shooters supply has VX-3 6.5-20 AO for $648
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i ... 0002466550

Thanks for the suggestion, but I want a scope with side PA not AO just so I can do everything behind the scope better.

Well my quest to compete in this is going along quite well. Still haven't found the right deal on a scope yet but I'm about ready to start building the rifle. For right now this is my parts list I have:

Donor: Stevens 200 .243 Win CF
Savage: 12 FV synthetic stock CF
Stockade: 5/8" blued tactical bolt handle
Stockade: Savage bolt lift kit
Stockade: Stainless steel recoil lug
Rifle Basix: 1-3lb adjustable trigger
McGowen: Blued 1:7 twist #2 Varmint 26" barrel .243 Win

As soon as the barrel gets here I'm going to put what I have together and go to the range for barrel break in. I'll probably add a SSS competition trigger but right now they are out of stock, so I'm using the RB I have on hand. I'll probably upgrade the stock in the future and put a DBM in as well. I decided to run the 1:7 twist in case I wanted to use DTAC and VLD bullets.

For practice I picked up four 6" and two 12" AR 500 steel squares. Now I just have to build some frames up so I can start launching some bullets soon! :grin: