First High Power Clinic

[wanderinwalker]

Sunday I attended my first High Power clinic. It was labeled as being for junior shooters (I am one until December...) and I was invited by the organizer (Gordon Hunt). I believe that Mr. Hunt has been NH State Champion in Service Rifle before, but I can't remember who told me such.

Anyway, the 8 of us who attended got to spend the morning and afternoon getting coached through positions by Mr. Hunt and a couple of other experienced High Power competitors. After spending the morning dry-firing our ARs and fine-tuning our positions, we shot a reduced course after lunch. We did 200 yd off-hand, 200 yd sitting rapid fire, and we did a prone rapid-fire string also from 200. Although we weren't officially keeping scores, I tracked my results (hey, can only tell if one is improving by keeping records!). I managed to shoot 87-2X offhand, 91 sitting and a miraculous 99-1X from prone. Total 277-3X out of 300.

Basically, I am curious if any High Power shooters can recommend a starting point for a practice program. I know I need to practice offhand, but can anybody suggest other places to look?

FWIW, my dad and I traded his Armalite M-15 NM for "my" Walther P-990. Next stop, ammunition supplies.

 

[Steve Smith]

Damned good shooting, bud!

For training: Get yourself some black thumbtacks and put one about chin-height on the wall. Pace off 12.5 feet and dry fire at that. That appears as the same size as the aiming black does. Put one low and lower for sitting and prone too. Work on standing and sitting. Sitting is the easiest position to shoot a clean from. You should be able to clean it unless something goes wrong.

Make sure you are in total relaxation in every position. If there is one thing that newbies do it is muscle the gun.

I forget that you used to shoot Smallbore. You should make Master next year if you keep this up. I'd suggest you try to do it Across the Course (full course shooting) as it is very rewarding.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Mr. Smith,
I never shot a position match (or any match really) in smallbore. It was like the clinic Sunday: coaching experience.

Clarification: Across the course would be an NRA or CMP style match, no? Still not up on my terms yet. This learning curve is a little steep, but not bad.

Thanks for the thumbtack idea, I'll give it a try.

 

[Steve Smith]

ok, sorry, different guy then. You will, I expect, make Expert at least if you keep up your performance. XC would be the full course version of a Highpower match, rather than a reduced course (200 or 300).

 

[Konrad]

I know it's a little nit picky but...

Across the course refers to a highpower tournament where all positions are utilized. It has nothing to do with distances fired. For example, an across the course match can be held at 100 yards.

 

[Steve Smith]

Konrad, that's not what the rest of the world calls it.

We can take this up at AR15, Nationalmatch.us, or the FL site if you want. You can pay me in beer if you're wrong.

From your site:

Distances

A typical "across the course" Highpower match will have the competitors firing at 200, 300, and 600 yard distances from the targets. If a match is being fired at a range where the distances are reduced, the targets are smaller to simulate the greater range.

BTW, want to buy another Bartlesman trimmer?

 

[Konrad]

Any difference of opinion between me and the world proves the world is wrong!

Regarding the quote from my site; a "typical" XTC match will have shooters shooting 200-600. A non-typical XTC match will have shooters shooting at reduced distances. I have to remember to add that clarification.

Don't need another trimmer. The one I have doesn't get much use anymore since I've started using my RCBS X-Die. First I spend money on equipment to save me time and then I spend money on equipment to make the original equipment obsolete. Hmmmmm, sounds like a conspiracy.

 

[Steve Smith]

I wouldn't call a reduced course match "XC" but this is obviously not a big deal.

 

[Jon Coppenbarger]

I do believe the official term for a reduced course match under 500 yards is SHORT COURSE.
a xtc match will be either a match consiting of the distances of 200, 300 and 600 or 200, 300, and 500 and is known as a full course match.

the short course match is normally called a reduced course match that pertains to the yardages and not so much the program run.

 

[Jon Coppenbarger]

at least this is how the nra will issue a classification card for some types of matches.

a match that is a standard course with sighters at either a short or regular length yardages and either 50 or 80 shots are all lumped together under the nra stlye of matches and the ones that do not have sighters are cmp stlye matches and should not count toward a classification.

 

[wanderinwalker]

So the matches that my club typically runs, with 200 and 300 stages, and sighters, is a reduced NRA match? And if I were to go to Nashua and the 600 yard range, it would be a full XTC match?

Another question: For 600 yards, should I try the 69gr Sierra MK, or step up to the 77 or 80gr loads? I'm fairly certain that my rifle has a 1:8" twist.

Hmmm... I wonder if the macthes I shot 5 years ago are current enough to count toward a classification. God I hope not!

 

[Steve Smith]

Well, I think with exception to Konrad we would all agree that the 200/300 matches are called "reduced course" Highpower matches, and yes, if you shoot it at 200, 300, and 600 you are shooting Across the Course (XC, XTC, ATC whatever).

If your barrel is a 1:7 or 1:8 twist there is no question, you should shoot 80 SMKs. There are other bullets that may or may not work as well (75 Hornady A-Max can be excellent) but the 80 Sierra is practically a guarantee in most rifles. Usually, if it won't shoot, nothing will.

Your scores from 5 years ago could still be included. I suggest you not worry about them and just shoot the best you can now.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Your scores from 5 years ago could still be included. I suggest you not worry about them and just shoot the best you can now.

No worries, just shooting. Had a day off from classes today, so I spent my "class-time" on the 200 yard line. Awesome time! Finally chrony-ed my 69gr loads. They averaged right about 2560 fps. Seems slow. Not only that, but near the end I was experiencing some problems chambering rounds. I wonder if my powder is just incredibly dirty. (FWIW, I am using 24gr of W748. And today would make about 80-90 rounds fired without cleaning.) Maybe a call to Armalite is in order?