longrangehunter
Handloader
- Jun 19, 2011
- 1,543
- 148
Not sure if any of you guys or gals have been to a NRL Hunter Match, PRS, or a field match, but I thought I might share some of what I learned through 10 years of competing.
This is going to just be a place for me to write out some really great ideas that I've perfected in the field while shooting at a National Match that Top shooters do to make hits, look easy.
I remember the first time I watched Nick Gardezi pull out from his vehicle a tripod with a small cutting board made from HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) he fashioned, drilled and tapped to fit his tripod so his shooting bag could sit on it! It was at a one day match in Washington I went to, and still to this day a lot of shooters still use that set up! Jake Vibbert still does to this day!
It was from that moment on that the idea of using a ball head with a Hog Saddle went out the window for a lot of the Top shooters!! I was at the Teddy Rosevelt Memorial Ranch in Montana in 2018 to shoot the Big Medicine Match Chas Bales the MD was putting on, and where I met him for the first time. I watched another shooter remove his Really Right Stuff anvil ball head and just put his bag directly on his RRS Tripod! It was from that moment on that I ditched the Hog Saddle setup, and many other shooters since then.
Less weight, nothing mechanical, easy to deploy and use…. It was a No-Brainer! The only thing good about the Hog Saddle on a ball head that helped me a lot was the ease of using my Terrapin on top of it, and the one and done with the range. Now I’m using a Vector X rangefinding Binoculars that I don’t even look at the range, only the data in the heads up display when you range! Which is also done off the tripod and the shooting bag on top for stability when ranging.
The stability factor is important when ranging. Some match directors have learned that if a target is placed on a ridge or rolling hill with another hill behind it the enemy of ranging is not hitting the target!
So it’s best to range at the base of the T-Post, or the ground just below the hanging target. Otherwise you’ll be ranging behind it, which means a miss, or many missed shots if you still believe the range you thought it was!! I’ve seen that 100 yards off from the actual target range by more shooters than I’ve ever seen before!
That removed another waste of time…. Looking through Binoculars to find the targets, having to range the targets with a rangefinder, and looking at a data card on my arm and highlighting it with a dry marker vs just making a COF layout with the dope. Easy and less time consuming.
If you shoot enough off a bag unsupported from the rear you’ll learn the technique and have the muscle memory to do it with proficiency. Which is why it works so well off a tripod, same thing, and it becomes second nature after awhile.
Now if you have your rifle supported by your shooting bag, or a tall bipod, your tripod can be used for rear support from an elevated position that takes some getting used to setting it up…. But can be Rock Solid, far off the ground or a lot further than what you can't do with a rear bag. You’re basically using one of the legs on the tripod to support the rear of your rifle while shouldered. Sounds simple and yes it can be with some time doing it in the field under practice conditions until you’re familiar with it. Main thing to remember, Pick Up the whole tripod when making your adjustments for ground/position placement. That way you don’t keel over the legs of the tripod moving it around on the ground!
Anything that can improve your ability to build a base to steady your shooting position makes a huge difference.
Now if this sounds complicated it just takes a bit of practice…… Or just wing it on the 4 minute clock at a match and eventually you’ll become proficient at doing it!?!
You’ll already have your tripod deployed to glass and range from. Move it to the left of you in case you need it, if you do, use it for the height needed to shoot one or more targets if you're able too.
I like to be looking for targets as I’m walking up to the COF, and FFP area. As well as while I’m removing my backpack and deploying my tripod, and placing my bag on the tripod.
You’ll set your rifle down first, I’m right handed so I place it on my right side slightly out of the way. While I'm walking/running up I deployed my bipod. Everything must be on your back, and only your rifle in hand. Bolt back, and you're not allowed to put your mag in until you're ready to shoot, or when the rifle is benched and pointed in a safe direction.
Unlike hunting….. NRL matches have either 1 Target and (4) positions to shoot from, or 4 targets and 1 position. You’ll either get a first round hit, or a second try at it, then move to engage the remaining targets. All must be engaged from a arms reach without moving your torso if prone to the FFP/Flag or painted spot.…….. That doses Not mean you can become/do the Walrus belly movement to achieve that! You’d be surprised how many shooters fail at making sure of that, and Walrus up or over to touch the flag, or painted spot! Even Top Shooters that just don’t think the RO knows the rules and hopefully isn't paying attention might fail at that rule of engagement.
Shooters can ask questions as long as they are a “Yes or No” answer. Asking if the deer target is next to a green tree is not going to get much of a reply other than “what tree”? It is the shooters responsibility to confirm to the RO which target they are going to engage!
A good shooter will find the target, or targets in under 1:30 minutes. It’s a lot of fun and will certainly make you a better hunter/shooter.
I’ve RO’d a Lot, which now the MD's allow us to shoot the match for free, and watch and learn from a lot of shooters over two days. That said being a RO does Not mean it’s a easy job, it is if you have the experience and knowledge of how to run a stage. I competed for years before ever RO’ing a National Match. It’s a little like being the spotter for the sniper. Only you’ll be dealing with a lot of different people and it’s up to you to run a safe stage for all involved.
Yes, I’ve seen guys not paying attention to the rock in front of them just below the line of sight and made it clear to “Check your muzzle, will you clear that rock in front of you?”
Plus transitioning from one FP to another and not sweeping anyone, or with a loaded weapon! The Bolt must be back at all times, No Sky loading, and no closing the bolt until you have the target in your scope and ready to engage!
Shit happens, and I’ve seen a lot of ND’s, AD’s and just stupid shit as an RO. It’s up to you to keep the flow of shooters moving and keeping a smile on your face while running a efficient and safe stage……. And No when a shooter or Team tries to tell you “that was a hit”! And you telling them the truth. No Call, move to the next target, or BS but without arguing, and keep shooting…. They’re on the clock!
Two Team members tried to tell me I wasn’t seeing their hits….. They’re shooting 6 dashers and those are hits! I thought WTX, No way. I have a Leica APO-Telvid 20-60 and there’s no way I didn’t see those hits! So I gave it to them. But I wasn’t happy about it because I thought there’s no way I just didn’t see those hits. The targets were gray and wet green grass behind them….. eventually a big hole will show up from the misses as the day goes on. But those were my first shooter of the day…… I even knew one of them, and sent them on their merry way.
The next day though was going to be a real eye opener for them….. I watched them like a hawk, and sure enough he’s closing the bolt without his face down on the stock and moving his rifle around and…. BOOM!
He was shooting down hill and on a steep hillside but that’s no excuse for a Negligent Discharge! He was shocked and if I hadn’t been watching some guys like to pull it over the RO’s that weren’t watching their movements.
They were DQ’ed from the Match! Now that’s karma at its best! What was even better was later that year at another match, those same two shooters were there working as RO’s….. The One that I knew approached me to say that he was sorry for what happened at the Snipers Hide Cup and that they were engaging the wrong targets….. But the targets on the next stage on the left!
Cheers, and I hope my long out loud thought process on a whim is somewhat helpful!
This is going to just be a place for me to write out some really great ideas that I've perfected in the field while shooting at a National Match that Top shooters do to make hits, look easy.
I remember the first time I watched Nick Gardezi pull out from his vehicle a tripod with a small cutting board made from HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) he fashioned, drilled and tapped to fit his tripod so his shooting bag could sit on it! It was at a one day match in Washington I went to, and still to this day a lot of shooters still use that set up! Jake Vibbert still does to this day!
It was from that moment on that the idea of using a ball head with a Hog Saddle went out the window for a lot of the Top shooters!! I was at the Teddy Rosevelt Memorial Ranch in Montana in 2018 to shoot the Big Medicine Match Chas Bales the MD was putting on, and where I met him for the first time. I watched another shooter remove his Really Right Stuff anvil ball head and just put his bag directly on his RRS Tripod! It was from that moment on that I ditched the Hog Saddle setup, and many other shooters since then.
Less weight, nothing mechanical, easy to deploy and use…. It was a No-Brainer! The only thing good about the Hog Saddle on a ball head that helped me a lot was the ease of using my Terrapin on top of it, and the one and done with the range. Now I’m using a Vector X rangefinding Binoculars that I don’t even look at the range, only the data in the heads up display when you range! Which is also done off the tripod and the shooting bag on top for stability when ranging.
The stability factor is important when ranging. Some match directors have learned that if a target is placed on a ridge or rolling hill with another hill behind it the enemy of ranging is not hitting the target!
So it’s best to range at the base of the T-Post, or the ground just below the hanging target. Otherwise you’ll be ranging behind it, which means a miss, or many missed shots if you still believe the range you thought it was!! I’ve seen that 100 yards off from the actual target range by more shooters than I’ve ever seen before!
That removed another waste of time…. Looking through Binoculars to find the targets, having to range the targets with a rangefinder, and looking at a data card on my arm and highlighting it with a dry marker vs just making a COF layout with the dope. Easy and less time consuming.
If you shoot enough off a bag unsupported from the rear you’ll learn the technique and have the muscle memory to do it with proficiency. Which is why it works so well off a tripod, same thing, and it becomes second nature after awhile.
Now if you have your rifle supported by your shooting bag, or a tall bipod, your tripod can be used for rear support from an elevated position that takes some getting used to setting it up…. But can be Rock Solid, far off the ground or a lot further than what you can't do with a rear bag. You’re basically using one of the legs on the tripod to support the rear of your rifle while shouldered. Sounds simple and yes it can be with some time doing it in the field under practice conditions until you’re familiar with it. Main thing to remember, Pick Up the whole tripod when making your adjustments for ground/position placement. That way you don’t keel over the legs of the tripod moving it around on the ground!
Anything that can improve your ability to build a base to steady your shooting position makes a huge difference.
Now if this sounds complicated it just takes a bit of practice…… Or just wing it on the 4 minute clock at a match and eventually you’ll become proficient at doing it!?!
You’ll already have your tripod deployed to glass and range from. Move it to the left of you in case you need it, if you do, use it for the height needed to shoot one or more targets if you're able too.
I like to be looking for targets as I’m walking up to the COF, and FFP area. As well as while I’m removing my backpack and deploying my tripod, and placing my bag on the tripod.
You’ll set your rifle down first, I’m right handed so I place it on my right side slightly out of the way. While I'm walking/running up I deployed my bipod. Everything must be on your back, and only your rifle in hand. Bolt back, and you're not allowed to put your mag in until you're ready to shoot, or when the rifle is benched and pointed in a safe direction.
Unlike hunting….. NRL matches have either 1 Target and (4) positions to shoot from, or 4 targets and 1 position. You’ll either get a first round hit, or a second try at it, then move to engage the remaining targets. All must be engaged from a arms reach without moving your torso if prone to the FFP/Flag or painted spot.…….. That doses Not mean you can become/do the Walrus belly movement to achieve that! You’d be surprised how many shooters fail at making sure of that, and Walrus up or over to touch the flag, or painted spot! Even Top Shooters that just don’t think the RO knows the rules and hopefully isn't paying attention might fail at that rule of engagement.
Shooters can ask questions as long as they are a “Yes or No” answer. Asking if the deer target is next to a green tree is not going to get much of a reply other than “what tree”? It is the shooters responsibility to confirm to the RO which target they are going to engage!
A good shooter will find the target, or targets in under 1:30 minutes. It’s a lot of fun and will certainly make you a better hunter/shooter.
I’ve RO’d a Lot, which now the MD's allow us to shoot the match for free, and watch and learn from a lot of shooters over two days. That said being a RO does Not mean it’s a easy job, it is if you have the experience and knowledge of how to run a stage. I competed for years before ever RO’ing a National Match. It’s a little like being the spotter for the sniper. Only you’ll be dealing with a lot of different people and it’s up to you to run a safe stage for all involved.
Yes, I’ve seen guys not paying attention to the rock in front of them just below the line of sight and made it clear to “Check your muzzle, will you clear that rock in front of you?”
Plus transitioning from one FP to another and not sweeping anyone, or with a loaded weapon! The Bolt must be back at all times, No Sky loading, and no closing the bolt until you have the target in your scope and ready to engage!
Shit happens, and I’ve seen a lot of ND’s, AD’s and just stupid shit as an RO. It’s up to you to keep the flow of shooters moving and keeping a smile on your face while running a efficient and safe stage……. And No when a shooter or Team tries to tell you “that was a hit”! And you telling them the truth. No Call, move to the next target, or BS but without arguing, and keep shooting…. They’re on the clock!
Two Team members tried to tell me I wasn’t seeing their hits….. They’re shooting 6 dashers and those are hits! I thought WTX, No way. I have a Leica APO-Telvid 20-60 and there’s no way I didn’t see those hits! So I gave it to them. But I wasn’t happy about it because I thought there’s no way I just didn’t see those hits. The targets were gray and wet green grass behind them….. eventually a big hole will show up from the misses as the day goes on. But those were my first shooter of the day…… I even knew one of them, and sent them on their merry way.
The next day though was going to be a real eye opener for them….. I watched them like a hawk, and sure enough he’s closing the bolt without his face down on the stock and moving his rifle around and…. BOOM!
He was shooting down hill and on a steep hillside but that’s no excuse for a Negligent Discharge! He was shocked and if I hadn’t been watching some guys like to pull it over the RO’s that weren’t watching their movements.
They were DQ’ed from the Match! Now that’s karma at its best! What was even better was later that year at another match, those same two shooters were there working as RO’s….. The One that I knew approached me to say that he was sorry for what happened at the Snipers Hide Cup and that they were engaging the wrong targets….. But the targets on the next stage on the left!
Cheers, and I hope my long out loud thought process on a whim is somewhat helpful!
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