Endurance

[stokesrj]

I'm in Nashville now waiting on a plane to Tampa Bay, lets see, Next to the rifle and sling I think the next most important item is spotting scope and stand, that is what tells you the wind condition and more.

I use a Kowa 773 spotting scope with a 25X long eye relief eye piece and a Creedmoor Pole Cat stand. A tripod does not cut it. The scope must be positioned so that you can see it through your left eye (for a right hand shooter) while the rifle is in position. If not you will miss wind changes and shoot 9's or even worse 8's in the time between reading the wind and breaking the shot. It isn't necessary to spend the money on a scope that I did, even a Konus 80 mm will do the job but the stand absolutely must be capable of positioning the eye pice in the proper location so that you can check wind through the mirage while in position. It must be easily adjustable for standing, sitting, and prone positions.

Less critical is the sitting position since it is only 200 yards, but I check my first two shots to make sure my wind call is good during my mag change and if necessary make a sight change before gaining my NPA for the next 8 rounds. You have a full 60 seconds to get off 10 rounds starting in the standing position and when the targets come up drop in to position gain your NPA(natural point of aim) and fire the ten rounds. I usually spend the first 28-30 seconds n the first two rounds and then reload, check my shots, and begin the next 8 rounds around 35-38 seconds, taking a breath between each shot or every other shot depending upon conditions. I fully expect to clean this stage if not something is wrong.
For the rapid prone you have more time 70 seconds from standing, I drop into position rack the charge handle, gain the NPA fire two shots and check the mirage for change, if none continue if a change change sight settings and continue with the next 8 shots. It is critical that you get the wind call correct on this stage again a clean is expected but a 99 or even a 98 will do.

For the slow prone at 600 yards your scope will get a work out. I use it to make a wind call and correlate to wind flags if possible. I watch the mirage as long as I can before called to the line and use a stop watch to time the take ups and let offs so that I can better predict how long I have until conditions change. I choose a prevalent condition and when the targets come up I wait for that condition to change and observe any fellow competitors shot placements until my condition returns then I shoot as fast as I can until the condition is close to changing. Depending upon the prevailing condition I may get off 4-10 shots and then I wait for that condition to return, watching my stop watch to make sure I won't runout of time. You have 20 minutes for 20 shots and if conditions are favorable and I have good pit service I expect to finish in 8-10 minutes which means I had to endure fewer wind changes. If conditions are changing rapidly I may be force to return to my no wind zero and wait for a known condition. Or in a worst case make a new call.

The difference between and excellent shooter using a scope to read conditions and the same shooter without a scope is typically about 20 points out of 200 possible. Just so we understand a 192-196 is usually required to get points in an EIC match. A 180 does not cut it. The scope and stand can make the difference between a marksman and high master. It is that critical.

Bob

[PA_Allen]

Bob,
Congratulations on achieving this great goal. I can appreciate the skill and endurance that it took to reach this point. I often tell folks that I thought I was a good shot until I tried across the course with a service rifle.

Best,
PA

[stokesrj]

PA thanks, only a few will fully realize what it takes to get that distinguished medal, if you have shot across the course on full course ranges then you will have an idea of what I was up against, especially at my age of 58.
Bob

[biodsl]

Hi Paul, are you any relation to Dan Peloquin from Chippewa Falls Wisconsin, Cray Research Super Computers?
Bob

Not to my knowledge. It would be nice to have that kind of intelligent lineage ; ) Not so many Peloquin's out here on the Left Coast, but you find more in WI and MN, as well as New England and Eastern Canada.

[stokesrj]

Here is a little bit of information on loads that work well for service rifle across the coarse competition. Look no further than the Sierra 77 grain SMK for 200 and 300 yard stages and 80 grain SMK for 600 yard loads. It is important that the powder used for short line loads also works without bad chemistry when followed by powder used in the long line load. The simplest way to achieve this is to shoot the same powder. Varget, and Reloader 15 are the most common and successful powders in this application.
It is counter intuitive but the 80 SMK can handle a heavier powder charge when loaded longer than mag length for single loading than the 77 SMK when loaded to mag length.

The Wylde chamber is the most popular chamber in use in .223 for service rifles. If loading for the Wylde Chamber, it is normal that the shoulder of fired cases are .005-.008 inches longer than SAMMI specifications. Cases will last longer if the shoulder is pushed back no more than .003" but then that case can only be fired in a wylde chamber. If that round is chambered in a CLE or other tight dimensioned chamber it will result in a case stuck in the chamber and may not fully close the bolt resulting in a rifle that can neither be fired not the round extracted. This isn't good and should be avoided. One way to do so is to resize cases fired in a Wylde chamber to SAAMI specifications. This will result in fewer loads per case but the risk is not worth taking to achieve a few more loadings per case.

So, assuming a wylde chamber, 24 grains of R15 is a great starting place and is often the stopping place too. Generally loads can be increased up to around 24.5 grains of R!5 under the 80 SMK if it is loaded for a jump to the lands of around .015"

Varget can be loaded a little heavier with many using 24.5 grains for the 77 SMK at mag length and 25.0 grains behind the 80 SMK seated long. Keep in mind you must work up to these loads in your rifle and they will blow primers in a tight chamber.

Many records have been set with the R15 and Varget loads I listed but they don't meter all that well so I don't use them. Instead I load my short line loads with with 23.2 grains of IMR8208XBR and my long line loads with 24.5 grains of Varget. I throw the 8208 loads and assemble on my Dillon and weigh the Varget loads and assemble on my single stage Press. It really isn't necessary to weigh the loads, throwing them is good enough for 600 yards, weighing is really only critical at 1,000 yards but I go ahead with the extra effort just for the peace of mind. Varget follows 8208 very well as they are the same chemistry, I shot five matches this week at camp Perry and every time I laid down at 600 yards with my Varget loads I shot an X or ten on the first shot, no settling required.

Another great bullet pair is the 75 grain Hornady BTHP Match and 80 grain A-Max. I have shot identical scores with this combination as the Sierra and they are typically 20% or more cheaper. I'm shooting the Sierra's only because I lucked into a 50% off certificate from Sierra up to $2000 so they are cheaper for me to shoot this year. However the top shooters opt for the Sierra's at a very high rate.

There really isn't any reason to look at any other bullets for this game, shoot the Sierras if you can or fall back to the Hornadys if funds require. The scores will be shot by the shooter not the load, so put as much time as possible working on position, sight alignment, and trigger control, that will get you more points than any amount of load development.

Bob