I'm quite keen on the idea of offering and running an honest milsurp pre-semi auto style battle rifle competition. As well I'm thinking that there could/would be a separate class for the WWII semi autos.
Much of my thinking is to make some amount of movement and crouching madatory other than for those who are just not able to bend down and back up.
My club where I'd likely host this has a 200 yard long range. Off the top of my head here's what I'm thinking.....
Not sure how all this will be scored. But like you guys say, it's about the fun and some casual bragging rights.
Moving with the rifles will be done with the guns cleared of ammo and bolts left open and the rifles slung over the shooter's shoulders. Guns would be confirmed clear by the RO running the CoF at the end of each shooting task before calling for them to be shouldered. Alternately if you folks think it's better the bolts on the cleared guns could be closed and the firing pins triggered to demonstrate clear in the same manner as handgun matches. At that point the rifle would be slung to move up
The tricky bit will be coming up with a way to factor in the elapsed time of the advance and fire portion. I'd want to do this in such a way as to make the best score come from a balance of speed and accuracy. A slow guy that shoots well from support can gain by kneeling and shooting with the rifle supported. A fast runner could take the lower accuracy points to get the better time.
Obviously all shots will be on the target at the same time since there's no target change during the Course of Fire. And therefore no way to tell which shot is from which portion of the CoF. So the overall accuracy vs time and bayonet scores would be factored together in some manner to sort of make it all work out.
We'd likely do the CoF in groups of 5 or maybe 6 at a time. Then switch out and do the next group(s) until done. If you've been counting along you'll have seen that each CoF will use 25 rounds of ammo. I foresee that we'd likely get to run the course of fire two times for the whole group. And maybe a third time depending on how it goes and the numbers of folks involved.
I've tried to add in some variations that would have been found on the usual battle field without actually importing Southern Pacific palm trees, Northern European woods and snow and requireing the guys to actually dig their own foxholes. I really like the advance and shoot portion at the end being timed as it would be as close as we could safely and realisticaly do given that I'd expect a fair share of over the hill types with coronary conditions.... Me included in this last group
But moving and shooting under pressure was an integal part of what was done with the old war time rifles and I feel it's important to include some of that. Might have to break it down into over and under 45 to 50 to separate the young runners from the old wheezy guys....
Thoughts? Suggestions? More importantly if this were in your area would you attend such an event?
Oh, and at some point there would be a 50 yard "Mad Minute" round. Most hits on an 11x17 size paper target wins. This would either be a separate bragging rights event or it would be factored into the match score. Bolt rifles only for this one though. Or we could do a separate semi auto mad minute. Only one MM per day though. I can see a lot of sore shoulders and empty ammo cases from even one. Especially with the semis
Much of my thinking is to make some amount of movement and crouching madatory other than for those who are just not able to bend down and back up.
My club where I'd likely host this has a 200 yard long range. Off the top of my head here's what I'm thinking.....
- From the normal shooting line at 200 yards from the targets shoot 5 rounds from prone using supplied benches or shooter supplied ground mats. These shots done on the shooter's own time... within reason of course. Like a 4 minutes or so window as max. For those that are just not spry enough to shoot from prone they would be allowed to shoot sitting from the usual benches we have.
- Move up to 150 yards from targets and shoot 5 more from kneeling with same 4 minute window.
- Repeat 5 more kneeling only at 100 yards from targets with same 4 minute window.
- Rack the rifles open and empty at the side of the range on a rack provided for this match. Prior to the match five 45Gal drums were set up on a central line at roughly 8 to 10 yard intervals down the range from the 80 yard from targets point. This fire and advance timed stage portion is shot one shooter at a time as a shot timer is used. From the 100 yard point the shooter loads 5 (Garand allowed full clip of 8). At the beep from a shot timer the shooter advances to the first barrel kneels or stands at own choice and shoots 2 rounds at target from cover of barrel. Moves forward smartly and repeats with 2 rounds at each barrel. Obviously one reload under the clock will be needed. At the last shot unload/show clear, record time for barrel cover advance and re-rack rifle. Repeat with each shooter in group.
- Remember the orange belly button dot? The shooters line up at 10 yards from the targets, fix bayonets if not used up to then. Upon the "CHARGE!" call from the RO charge and try to bayonet on or as close as possible to the orange dot. Foul will be called if the bayonet is place on the dot then pushed.
Not sure how all this will be scored. But like you guys say, it's about the fun and some casual bragging rights.
Moving with the rifles will be done with the guns cleared of ammo and bolts left open and the rifles slung over the shooter's shoulders. Guns would be confirmed clear by the RO running the CoF at the end of each shooting task before calling for them to be shouldered. Alternately if you folks think it's better the bolts on the cleared guns could be closed and the firing pins triggered to demonstrate clear in the same manner as handgun matches. At that point the rifle would be slung to move up
The tricky bit will be coming up with a way to factor in the elapsed time of the advance and fire portion. I'd want to do this in such a way as to make the best score come from a balance of speed and accuracy. A slow guy that shoots well from support can gain by kneeling and shooting with the rifle supported. A fast runner could take the lower accuracy points to get the better time.
Obviously all shots will be on the target at the same time since there's no target change during the Course of Fire. And therefore no way to tell which shot is from which portion of the CoF. So the overall accuracy vs time and bayonet scores would be factored together in some manner to sort of make it all work out.
We'd likely do the CoF in groups of 5 or maybe 6 at a time. Then switch out and do the next group(s) until done. If you've been counting along you'll have seen that each CoF will use 25 rounds of ammo. I foresee that we'd likely get to run the course of fire two times for the whole group. And maybe a third time depending on how it goes and the numbers of folks involved.
I've tried to add in some variations that would have been found on the usual battle field without actually importing Southern Pacific palm trees, Northern European woods and snow and requireing the guys to actually dig their own foxholes. I really like the advance and shoot portion at the end being timed as it would be as close as we could safely and realisticaly do given that I'd expect a fair share of over the hill types with coronary conditions.... Me included in this last group
But moving and shooting under pressure was an integal part of what was done with the old war time rifles and I feel it's important to include some of that. Might have to break it down into over and under 45 to 50 to separate the young runners from the old wheezy guys.... Thoughts? Suggestions? More importantly if this were in your area would you attend such an event?
Oh, and at some point there would be a 50 yard "Mad Minute" round. Most hits on an 11x17 size paper target wins. This would either be a separate bragging rights event or it would be factored into the match score. Bolt rifles only for this one though. Or we could do a separate semi auto mad minute. Only one MM per day though. I can see a lot of sore shoulders and empty ammo cases from even one. Especially with the semis
