This is not a bench rest competition!! No bench rest guns allowed. We're talking about a hunting rifle competition here. Bull barrels are OK since that's what a lot of us hunt with (me too), but no bench type forestocks (more than 3.5" wide) and lets keep it to 13.5lbs all up weight (rifle/scope/ammo).
No rests, no benches, no bags, no bi-pods or tri-pods. All shooting will be from Predator Sniper Styx that have been graciously donated by Brent Rueb of
Predator Sniper Styx, while either sitting on the ground or on your own stool. You can have a spotter with you to help you spot your misses. We'll probably shoot in relays (if there's enough participation), so trading off shooting/spotting shouldn't be a problem.
Normal range safety rules will be strictly adhered to. Eye and ear protection required at all times. Bolts open and guns unloaded until you are on the firing line and are given permission to load. Muzzles always pointed downrange. At the "cease fire" command, all shooting stops, and firearms are to be unloaded. All range officer commands followed immediately. We'll write up a list of specific range rules but you guys have all been to a range and know the drill. SAFETY FIRST!!
If anybody is not "range experienced", don't hesitate to let us know. We'll be happy to help you out, and it's more a reflection on your good intelligence than on your lack of range operations experience to let us know.
The San Carlos Wildlife and Recreation Department has generously agreed to make an exception to their normal policy, and allow us to hold the competition on the Rez, so that's probably where it will be. That means that you will have to get your Reservation hunting licenses before the shoot.
You will also need to be registered for the PM hunt, but I hope we'll be able to get you registered on site. Click here for hunt registration (1st step) and then go here for payment (2nd step).
A $40 entry fee includes 3 shots at each stage you qualify for, additional shots (up to 3) for $20 each are also good for each stage you qualify for.
The shoot will go something like this:
At each stage shooters will get set up with their shooting sticks etc., and will then be given permission to load their rifles. When everybody is loaded and ready, the rangemaster will give the "commence fire" order and you'll have 2 minutes to fire your string, when the range master will command "cease fire".
We'll start the shoot off at 200YDs unless there's a lot of wind. Everybody that "kills" their egg at that range will move on to the 300YD stage, if you hit at 300YDs you will qualify for the next stage at 400YDs, and so on. If it gets that far (doubtful), we'll probably stop the range increases at 500YDs ( because of range limitations), and shoot "eliminations" to get a winner.
Each shooter will get three shots included with their entry fee, and will be able to "buy" up to three additional shots before any stage. In other words, you could pay your entry and "buy" 3 extra shots before the match. You would then have 6 shots available at 200YDs and at each stage that you qualified for after that.
Or, you could shoot 3 shots at 200YDs and (if you killed your egg) buy the extra 3 shots (or 1 or 2) afterwards. That would make you a 6 round shooter for the 300YD stage and any subsequent stages you qualified for.
All you have to do at each stage is break your egg. It doesn't matter if it's with the 1st or the 6th shot (unless it goes into "elimination" which I doubt). If you accidentally shoot someone else's egg, lucky him, and I hope you have more shots left to try for yours.
Prizes will be awarded in the traditional shooting comp manner. The 1st place winner gets first choice from the prize table, 2nd place gets next choice, etc.
This should be a real hoot, and a chance to win some great prizes too!!
The Predator Sniper Styx will be given away by drawing from the names of all registered shooters after the shoot is over.
First prize for the egg shoot will be a D-tech (Mike Milli) custom build. .223 Remington, with a Olympic Arms, stainless ultramatch 20" barrel, fluted and with the integral compensator. The trigger is a tuned Rock River two-stage. It would have a free-floated handguard with sling/bi-pod stud mounted. The stock would be a Magpul CTR collapsible stock and a P-Mag.
(edit: I actually had the rifle specifics wrong the first time.)
I will post pictures as soon as they are available.
Second prize will be a Scorpion Digital Foxpro caller donated by FOXPRO. (color may vary from that pictured)
Edit by MJM: Last year we experienced some mechanical stoppages that could not be cleared in the allotted shooting time. Every shoot has provisions to allow for this problem. Last year we did not include a rule to handle this sort of problem. This year we will allow additional time for those that have mechanical problems that prevent them from completing all their shots in the allotted time.