The Ontario Rifle Association for years focused on shooting target rifles. 223 and 308 rifles with irons sights shot off the elbows with a sling. I think the same could be said for the other provincial rifle associations, with the possible exception of BC which has always seemed to have a more varied program.
We took shooting target rifle very seriously, but a number of us owned “ordinary” rifles and wanted to shoot for fun. The military ranges offer exceptional facilities, so it was logical we should take advantage of that opportunity.
Our “Shoot for the Joy of Shooting" match is called the Vintage Match. There is some debate as to whether it refers to the age of the shooters or the age of the rifles. It was originally intended for our lee Enfields and Mausers. It is since morphed into a “shoot what ya got” match. While this does mean an open sight SKS is now competing against a scoped hunting rifle, we have found that so long as a shooter uses the same rifle all day, the advantages and disadvantages even out. A scoped Rem 700 that can’t be fed with a stripper clip does not do so well in the rapid fire match – 10 shots in 45 seconds.
We also break all the shooters into various classes, depending on the rifles. The main break is irons vs scoped. Also, the object was to dust off our plinker rifles and have some fun. I have a nice #4T. If it was not for this match, it would never get shot. Same for my SKS and Garand.
Each of the PRS’s, in my opinion, should consider putting on some of these matches each summer, and inviting as many guests as possible to come out and have some fun.
I am putting together a mailing list of Gun Nutz in commuting distance of camp Borden (Barrie) and Winona (Hamilton). I need your real name and your real email address. Send me a PM if you want to be advised when and where we might have a shoot. I say “might” because we do not yet have range dates and are not yet sure how to invite 30 non-members to join us.
Today I got an email from a Gun Nutter on my list, asking which rifle to bring. Maybe this answer will be of general interest.
Jeff wrote: Shoot should be fun. Here is what I have. What do you think I should use? cz-858-2, svt-40, sks 45, mosin m 38 with scout scope.
Jeff, if it was me, I would want to shoot the match with the SKS, and the next time, I would want to shoot the 858, and then the M38.
I hope to have 3 of these shoots this summer. I want to use my new SKS Russian shooter with a scope, my Norinco SKS with a peep sight and my newly built fake #4T.
The other thing I have done is shot the 300 part of the match with one rifle and then the 200 and 100 with a different rifle. But that was not as satisfying, since I did not get to master the sight settings for the 3 distances.
By the way, if a rifle, like your scout scope does not have a good sight adjustment system to dial in specific distances, I have found it best to get a good 300 yard zero and then aim a bit low at 200 and 100 (I aim at Herman's crotch). This is so much easier to do then making changes to a sight. Now, if you are using a military sight that has been well zeroed at 300 so that 300 is on the sight, then it is easy to change the sight setting to 200 and 100. The SKS with the issue open sights, the #4 with iron sights and a Garand are all easy to click to a different setting to match the distance. With scopes it is so much easier to aim low. At 200 and 100 the correct aim point with a 300 yard zero is the bottom of the bullseye circle, which is easy to see.
Does 300 yards sound like a long distance to you? As a target shooter who has shot all the way back to 1200 yards with irons sights, 300 is very close range. But with an old milsrp, it is as far as we care to go. At 300 we shoot at a 4 foot square target. Once your rifle is zeroed (and we will have time and help to do that) you cannot miss the target. You may miss the bull, but you won’t miss the target, so it is not too far. We used to have a 500 yard leg to this match, but a lot of guys started to have problems. Was not fun.
So instead we changed the 500 yard to a 100 yard standing match where we shoot a snap target (3 second exposures) and a moving target (it walks about 15 feet, 10 times) . Everyone agreed this was a lot more fun. You are wondering how much you have to lead a moving target?? Only an inch or two. If you aimed dead centre for each shot you would probably get 10 bulls.
I think your question will be of interest to others who are interested in the match, so I will share this email with them. I will start writing some information emails about this type of shooting, so you can all put your mind to all the issues that should be considered. It is so much more fun and interesting if you don’t get blinded sided by things you had not been told. For example, when considering what rifle to use, make sure it is a rifle you can have 75 rounds of ammo to shoot.
This picture shows a 100 yard mover or snap target being marked. Each bullet hole is plugged with a red spotter so the shooter can see where his shots hit. The "Bull" extends from the top of the rifle to the crotch.
We took shooting target rifle very seriously, but a number of us owned “ordinary” rifles and wanted to shoot for fun. The military ranges offer exceptional facilities, so it was logical we should take advantage of that opportunity.
Our “Shoot for the Joy of Shooting" match is called the Vintage Match. There is some debate as to whether it refers to the age of the shooters or the age of the rifles. It was originally intended for our lee Enfields and Mausers. It is since morphed into a “shoot what ya got” match. While this does mean an open sight SKS is now competing against a scoped hunting rifle, we have found that so long as a shooter uses the same rifle all day, the advantages and disadvantages even out. A scoped Rem 700 that can’t be fed with a stripper clip does not do so well in the rapid fire match – 10 shots in 45 seconds.
We also break all the shooters into various classes, depending on the rifles. The main break is irons vs scoped. Also, the object was to dust off our plinker rifles and have some fun. I have a nice #4T. If it was not for this match, it would never get shot. Same for my SKS and Garand.
Each of the PRS’s, in my opinion, should consider putting on some of these matches each summer, and inviting as many guests as possible to come out and have some fun.
I am putting together a mailing list of Gun Nutz in commuting distance of camp Borden (Barrie) and Winona (Hamilton). I need your real name and your real email address. Send me a PM if you want to be advised when and where we might have a shoot. I say “might” because we do not yet have range dates and are not yet sure how to invite 30 non-members to join us.
Today I got an email from a Gun Nutter on my list, asking which rifle to bring. Maybe this answer will be of general interest.
Jeff wrote: Shoot should be fun. Here is what I have. What do you think I should use? cz-858-2, svt-40, sks 45, mosin m 38 with scout scope.
Jeff, if it was me, I would want to shoot the match with the SKS, and the next time, I would want to shoot the 858, and then the M38.
I hope to have 3 of these shoots this summer. I want to use my new SKS Russian shooter with a scope, my Norinco SKS with a peep sight and my newly built fake #4T.
The other thing I have done is shot the 300 part of the match with one rifle and then the 200 and 100 with a different rifle. But that was not as satisfying, since I did not get to master the sight settings for the 3 distances.
By the way, if a rifle, like your scout scope does not have a good sight adjustment system to dial in specific distances, I have found it best to get a good 300 yard zero and then aim a bit low at 200 and 100 (I aim at Herman's crotch). This is so much easier to do then making changes to a sight. Now, if you are using a military sight that has been well zeroed at 300 so that 300 is on the sight, then it is easy to change the sight setting to 200 and 100. The SKS with the issue open sights, the #4 with iron sights and a Garand are all easy to click to a different setting to match the distance. With scopes it is so much easier to aim low. At 200 and 100 the correct aim point with a 300 yard zero is the bottom of the bullseye circle, which is easy to see.
Does 300 yards sound like a long distance to you? As a target shooter who has shot all the way back to 1200 yards with irons sights, 300 is very close range. But with an old milsrp, it is as far as we care to go. At 300 we shoot at a 4 foot square target. Once your rifle is zeroed (and we will have time and help to do that) you cannot miss the target. You may miss the bull, but you won’t miss the target, so it is not too far. We used to have a 500 yard leg to this match, but a lot of guys started to have problems. Was not fun.
So instead we changed the 500 yard to a 100 yard standing match where we shoot a snap target (3 second exposures) and a moving target (it walks about 15 feet, 10 times) . Everyone agreed this was a lot more fun. You are wondering how much you have to lead a moving target?? Only an inch or two. If you aimed dead centre for each shot you would probably get 10 bulls.
I think your question will be of interest to others who are interested in the match, so I will share this email with them. I will start writing some information emails about this type of shooting, so you can all put your mind to all the issues that should be considered. It is so much more fun and interesting if you don’t get blinded sided by things you had not been told. For example, when considering what rifle to use, make sure it is a rifle you can have 75 rounds of ammo to shoot.
This picture shows a 100 yard mover or snap target being marked. Each bullet hole is plugged with a red spotter so the shooter can see where his shots hit. The "Bull" extends from the top of the rifle to the crotch.
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- I guess that's why I will never be a member of that club.
