Tactical Events

Kodiak Island Sportsman's Association

Tactical Events

14 March 2009

K.I.S.A. 2009 Tactical .22Rimfire

Season began with a match that will be best remembered for clear skies, below freezing temps, and gusty winds. Five shooters took on an assortment of paper and steel targets, and, of course, the weather to claim the usual bragging rights. This was the 1^st match shooters faced steel plates: 5 at 50 yards and 5 at 100 yards, all shot at once, scoring being pure time with no restrictions on position or number of rounds. Shooters will be working on zeros after this one! Mike Storrs took the stage with a 55 second time, shooting a Buckmark target rifle with a 2 x 7 scope. Second place was a 10/22, with third to a bolt gun. A “smack the Smiley” variation was introduced and proved nicely difficult. The unknown distance (154 yards) took only one hit, with the wind playing a big role in its safety

A die-hard band of shooters.

Equipment, just like last year, was widely mixed with bunny guns and benchrest rifles well represented. No rifle type was obviously superior and scope magnification was just as inconclusive. The weather was factor too, the bright sun was nice, but the gusty wind and temps in the low 20's took a toll on precision shooting as bare hands and “glacier benchrest” (lying on the hard packed snow) chilled even the toughest competitors. This was no place for jeans and a jacket...Two shooters shot from packs, one from a bipod. Ammo was whatever the rifle liked, no clear trend there.

Dave Salzer shows off his "Glacier Benchrest" form.

Winter scoring rules were applied, meaning pack up the targets and scoring notes and head for the “Rendezvous” restaurant (and bar) to write up our scores and drown our sorrows. Mike Storrs came out on top with 140 points (Big boost from his falling plate score), Rio Berggren shooting a bolt rifle took second with 70 points (again, a big helping of plate points) and Bill Hoyt took third with 35 points shooting a Ruger 10/22 compact.

No, really, there's a target out there.

CONGRATULATIONS to all the shooters and a BIG THANKS TO GREG METE for his invaluable help in scoring, timing and setting up.

The next match is tentatively scheduled for the 1^st week in May. We hope to see you there!

" RIMFIRE TACTICAL MATCH "

"RIMFIRE TACTICAL MATCH "
" click photo to open it "

1st Rimfire Tactical Match Bulletin 7/17/08

First of all, I would like to thank all of the shooters for participating and making this first Tactical Rimfire match a success. I wanted to design a match that offered different challenges and situations than what we are used to seeing. I hope I came close with this one. I’d also like to send out a special thanks to Greg Mete and Mike Haskins for their help “behind the lines” as it were. Did I mention Haskins was not only our official photographer and scorer, but was also the chief pyrotechnic officer?

A tough job but he handled it easily, almost as if it came naturally…….

Rimfire Tactical matches will only become more popular over the United States as ammo costs rise and range sizes shrink. These matches offer all the challenges of their center-fire counterparts but at reduced cost, noise, and recoil.

Tactical Matches offer a variety of targets, distances, and positions for shooters that are not offered in more common matches. Each shooter was presented with several stations, each offering a unique challenge that was to be solved as they saw fit. It was both fun and interesting to watch how each person handled the situation presented to them.

The equipment was as varied as the shooters themselves. It’s interesting to note that while a rifle usually used for bench-rest matches led the pack, rifles in 2^nd and 3^rd place were box-stock factory guns with a 3 – 9 Leupold and an 8 power Redfield, respectively.

Weather was predicted to be windy (more to contend with!) but turned out to be sunny and calm so shooters fought with the abundant bugs instead.

Some targets incorporated no-shoot areas and many shooters lost their hard-won points as bullets strayed into these ballistic “no-fly zones”. Shooting positions were also all over the board. Shooting from under a picnic bench is not something most people consider, let alone practice. Everyone seemed to have fun and another match is in the planning stages to be hosted in mid-August. Anticipate changes in targets, ranges, positions, and fireworks!

At the end of the day, as the dust and smoke cleared, the scores posted as follows:

Rio Berggren 585 points

Gus Gustaveson 305 points

Sarah Gustaveson 300 points

Mike Kerwood 240 points

Sam Loska 200 points

Colin Spencer 195 points

Dave Salzer 55 points

Thank You again to all the shooters and those who generously gave their time to help set up and run this first Tactical Rimfire match.

I would like to ask the shooter to make a list of what they liked, disliked, or would like to see next time. We can’t do much about the wind and bugs but write down your comments on this bulletin and drop it off to me at the store. Your input if very valuable for the next match! Please include contact phone numbers or emails so I can get back to you for the next match. I am glad that everyone had fun and I will do my best to make the next one better.

Erik