Single Shot Combined Mid Range and
v. July 2010
Introduction
A gong (target) is a metallic plate suspended so that it will clank or ring when struck by a bullet. Unlike bullseye shooting, where scores are determined by distance from the center of the target, gongs are a hit or miss affair. A hit earns a fixed number of points, a miss earns zero.
The Combined Mid Range and Long Range Match is designed to provide a level, competitive platform for both mid range and long range shooters. Those competitors using smaller calibers or lighter loads can compete in a ‘submatch’ head to head with those using the heavy calibers and loads needed for 1000 yard distances.
No age or gender categories are recognized. All entrants compete head to head. You step to the line, take your best shots, and see how you stack up.
In order to preserve the match
experience for everyone, entry is limited to experienced long
range shooters and to new shooters who have completed a long range introductory
clinic and who can independently complete the course of fire. Age has no bearing, but a shooter must be
able to compete on their own.
Safety
Eye and hearing protection must be worn at all times by competitors, match officers, spotters, and spectators close to the shooting line.
Firearms must always be handled in a safe manner. Except at the firing line, muzzles should be pointed directly upwards with the muzzle above head level.
Competitions
Mid Range Competition – a head to head event
with targets out to 430 yards.
Rifles
Any pre-1896 single shot cartridge rifle with exposed hammer, or replica thereof, shooting a rifle caliber, rimmed, metallic cartridge originally designed (pre-1896) for black powder, and equipped with iron sights may be used. Minimum bullet diameter is .375 inches. Schuetzen style rifles are not permitted.
H&R 1871 Classic and 1871 Target rifles fall within Spirit of the Game and are permitted.
The same rifle must be used for all targets.
Sights
Sights must conform to the styles generally available in the 19th century. Scopes or optical sights of any kind are not permitted unless a scope category is added. Electronic sights of any kind are not permitted.
Front sights may be from a simple blade type to period hooded wind gauge designs with spirit level and interchangable inserts.
Rear sights may be from simple barrel type sights (open or aperture, blade or ladder) to original style tang mounted peep sights.
Ammunition
All bullets used in the match must be of cast or swaged lead alloy, with or without gas checks. No jacked bullets may be used. All bullets must be seated in the cartridge case. Breach seating of bullets is not permitted.
Ties will be broken by a sudden death shoot off, so bring plenty of ammunition.
Smokeless, black power, duplex, or black powder substitutes are permitted.
Ammunition may be varied at the shooter’s discretion, e.g. lighter bullets for close range, heavier bullets for long range.
Be absolutely
certain that your loads are safe for the type and age rifle you are
using and that your rifle is in safe shooting condition.
Course of Fire
This is a NO ALIBI match. Once the first round goes down range, the shooter is committed. In the event of equipment or ammunition problems, shots not fired will be considered misses. An accidental discharge is considered a miss (unless it hits the proper target). A shot at a wrong target is a miss.
For the Mid Range match, the course of fire will be 5 shots for score at each of four targets (20 shots total). Two fouling/sighter shots will be permitted for each target .
For the
The competitor must announce whether the first two shots are fouling/sighter shots or for score. A shot announced as a fouling/sighter shot will not count for score. If not announced, a shot is for score. Once a shot for score is taken at a target, no additional sighters may be taken for that target.
A competitor may have a spotter to assist them, but a spotter has NO input as to official hits or misses by a competitor. Match officials will call only hits or misses and will not indicate the direction of a miss.
Targets
Nominal target distances will announced. Competitors may use their own rangefinding devices.
Targets are weighted for difficulty and will be multiplied by the number of hits. The weighting scheme is intended to minimize the possibility of tie scores as well as generally reflect the difficulty of the target.
Mid Range Match
5 shots at 220 yards, ANY POSITION (18” x 24”) (weight = 2)
(Offhand position for this target is at the shooters discretion and will earn 4 points per hit)
5 shots at 250 yards, any POSITION(bear silhouette, 18” x 48”) (weight = 4)
5 shots at 324 yards, any POSITION (18” x 24”) (weight = 3)
5 shots at 430 yards, ANY POSITION (27” x 27”) (weight = 5 )
5 shots at 735 yards, ANY POSITION (48” x 30”) (weight=7)
5 shots at 835 yards, any position (60” x 60”) (weight = 9)
Positions
Shooting positions will be OFFHAND or ANY as defined below. Slings or any sort of support clothing are not permitted.
OFFHAND
Standard NRA standing offhand position. No artificial supporting devices of any kind may be used.
ANY
ANY includes prone (ground), sitting (ground), seated (stool), or standing positions. Xsticks are permitted but not required. Creedmore style reclining positions are not permitted. Shooting mats are permitted. No artificial supports may be used for any part of the body except the buttocks. E.g., if a stool is used, it may not have any projection above the level of the seat that could be used to support the back or elbows.
Only traditional style, 2 leg xsticks with ground spikes are permitted. Narrow bases (up to 2 inches in width) may be used. A ground cloth is highly recommended as the shooting line is dirt.
Logistics
The logistics for a match will depend on the number of competitors and will be announced at the shooters meeting. Multiple relays may be used if needed. For a single relay, the following works well.
The relay will take the firing line and complete shooting all targets as follows.
All members of a relay will set up at the firing line at the same time. This means placing ground cloths/mats/stools, setting up and adjusting xsticks, making initial sight settings, and placing rifle and ammunition at the ready. Each competitor should make everything ‘ready to shoot’ so that the round, once started, can proceed quickly and smoothly. Competitors are urged to complete setups as quickly as possible as shooting will not begin until all positions are set up.
Spotters may set up behind or behind and slightly to the side of a shooter, but may not be positioned where it will interfere with other shooters or range operations. Shooting will commence when indicated whether any spotter is ready or not.
When a relay is ready, shooting will proceed left to right along the firing line, with each shooter being called by name and then completing all shots at ONE target before the next shooter starts. Hits and misses will be called by the scoring judges for each shot and marked on the official score sheet.
After shooting a particular target, a competitor may leave the firing line to clean their rifle, eat, rest, etc. Shooters are encouraged to use this time to make sight adjustments and generally make ready for their next turn so that the round can progress as efficiently as possible.
A shooter need not remain at the line while waiting for their turn in a relay.
When all members of a relay have completed shooting at one particular target, the process will start over with the left-most competitor of the relay shooting at the next target.
In the event that Mid Range and
Scoring
When possible, flashers will be used on targets over 400 yards distant. There will be two scoring officials watching the target through spotting scopes. Both scoring officials will be listening for hits. Hitting the pipe supports for a target will likely be called as a hit as it will be very difficult to determine when this happens. The ‘call’ of a hit or miss is solely up to the scoring officials.
Any disagreement about a hit/miss must be addressed BY THE SHOOTER at the time of that call. Once the shooter has resumed shooting, the call stands.
Scores will be determined by the sum of the NUMBER OF HITS for each target times the TARGET WEIGHT for that target.
Ties for
Competitors dropping out will be ranked in reverse order of their elimination, i.e. the last person to drop out will be ranked second, the person dropping out before them will be ranked third, etc. All other competitors will be ranked by score behind the sudden death shooters.
After first place has been resolved, a tie for SECOND PLACE will be broken by another SUDDEN DEATH shootoff.
Ties for third place and below will not be addressed.
A ‘can’t shoot’ by any contestant will be counted as a miss (e.g. out of ammunition, or rifle malfunction)