See you at the British Shooting Show in February

January 2011 Issue

Target Shooter 1
March Scope Review • Practical Shooting • New Products • and lots more…..
 THE SHOW THAT EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT...
3 rd Fantastic

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Special Even more to do, more to see and more to buy!

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 Target Shooter 3
Welcome to the Janurary Issue................Target Shooter
Sections
15 Digital Media for
Shooting Sports Part 2 - 6 Shooting Sport News
The Galaxy Tab
by Carl Boswell 14 Shooters Calendar

27 Shooting Black Powder

Pistol by Chris Risebrook

21 Centershot Bipod 31 Local Gunshop - Hannams
by Vince Bottomley by Laurie Holland

49 United Kingdome Rimfire &

Air Rifle Benchrest
Association - Special
Report - Jake Healey
37 March 8-80x56

Scope 56 Welsh Open Report by
by Richard Wild Hayley Platts

61 Olympic and ISSF
Shooting - A Discussion via
an open letter from
44 UK Air Rifle Vladimir Lisin
Benchrest Team by
Carl Boswell 74 Club of the Month

Association Pages
76 NRA

78 UKBRA
52 Building the
Ultimate F/TR 80 F- Class
Rifle
by Vince Bottomley 82 Gallery Rifle

86 UKPSA

66 Getting Started
in Gallery Rifle - the
Ruger 10/22 Part 3
by Gwyn Roberts

4 Target Shooter
 Editor(s). Main cover shot by
Carl Boswell and Vince Bottomley Andrew Venables
Advertising and Office Manager
email; admin@targetshooter.co.uk
Contributors
Vince Bottomley Tony Saunders Laurie Holland
Chris Risebrook Carl Boswell Don Brook
Alan Whittle Gwyn Roberts Les Holgate
Hayley Platts Richard Wild


Webitorial - January 2010 - Changes at Target Shooter
It’s almost two years since three target-shooting enthusiasts, bemoaning the loss of Britain’s only decent
target shooting magazine (Target Sports), banded together to launch Target Shooter.
It was enthusiasm, rather than any serious business aspirations, that brought about the birth of Target
Shooter. With no magazine publishing experience, could the three of us really launch a web-based
magazine? Would our passion be enough?
Reality soon hit us - bank accounts must be opened, limited companies created and accountants engaged
– like it or not. So, Trinity Digital Publishing was formed and registered with Companies House, with the
three of us as directors.
Putting out a digital magazine for a sport we all love might sound like a big ego trip but, the realities are much
different – it is a job and like any job, it can be rewarding, uplifting, frustrating, oh and did I mention – it pays
far less than the minimum wage!
We are of course free on-line, so our advertising income must be sufficient to pay all the bills – namely our
loyal contributors, internet hosting costs and our software - which is now pretty well the best there is for a
web-magazine.
Poor Andy drew the short straw – it was up to him to drum-up that all-important advertising revenue and a
splendid job he has done, in spite of the reluctance of many firms - who we really felt would benefit from our
12,000 per month world-wide readership - but, most months, we at least break-even.
Sadly, Andy has chosen to leave us and who can blame him – long hours, little job satisfaction and even less
remuneration! What’s worse, Andy is not in the best of health currently and we wish him all the very best and
thank him sincerely for all his help – without him, you wouldn’t be reading Target Shooter magazine now.
But, as one door closes, another opens and we are delighted to welcome Yvonne on board. We are again
three! Needless to say, Yvonne is a shooter and her partner is a shooter so, she is no stranger to our passion
and we’re sure she will fit in admirably with the Target Shooter ethos – i.e. all work and no pay!
Readers, we wish you a Happy New Year and advertisers, we thank you for your support and look forward
to promoting your business in Target Shooter in 2011.

Vince, Carl & Yvonne

Carl - carl@targetshooter.co.uk and Vince - vinceb@targetshooter.co.uk and Yvonne - admin@

targetshooter.co.uk
Copyright © Trinity Digital Publishing Ltd
Disclaimer
The website www.targetshooter.co.uk is part of Target Shooter magazine with all contents of both electronic media copyrighted. No reproduction is permitted unless
written authorisation is provided.
Information, prices and data is believed to be correct at the time of posting on the internet which is on or around the 1st of each month. Advertisements that are firearm
related are from companies or individuals that Target Shooter magazine believes are licensed to hold such firearms and accepts no responsibility if companies or
individuals are not so licensed.
Letters and photographs submitted by members of the public to Target Shooter magazine will be accepted on the basis that the writer has agreed to publication unless
otherwise stated. Target Shooter magazine has no control over the content or ownership of photographs submitted.
The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publishers and relate to specific circumstances within each article. These are the opinions
and experiences of writers using specific equipment, firearms, components and data under controlled conditions. Information contained in the online magazine or on the
website is intended to be used as a guide only and in specific circumstances caution should be used. Target Shooter Magazine does not except any responsibility for
individuals attempting to recreate such testing using any information, data or other materials in its electronic pages.Publishers of Target Shooter magazine.

Target Shooter 5
 Shooting Sport News
EUROGUNS DONCASTER - Over 100 snacks” upon arrival before perusing the many
people attended the evening enjoying “game departments and varied product displays.

Several companies were

in attendance, Weihrauch,
Holloway and Naughton,
Garlands and Swarovski,
together with their current
product offers.

Weihrauch ran a Speed

Shoot on the indoor Air Rifle
Range and they donated an
HW97K for the top score of
the night.

The entry money from the

Speed Shoot and a raffle
was donated to the charity
“Cash for Kids” this raised
£360.

MR J ORGAN - Winner

Paul James representing
Hull Cartridge Co Limited
and Weihrauch.

Paul is the reigning “World
Field Target Champion”
(Spring Class), which he
won using a HW97.

If more information is
needed contact Nigel at
Euroguns Tel:
013020773301

6 Target Shooter
Introducing our newest recruit to the Target Shooter Magazine team Yvonne ( a recent
picture taken in the USA), who will be taking on the administration of the magazine,
advertising accounts, etc. She can be contacted at; admin@targetshooter.co.uk

L APUA .260 REM BRASS ON THE

WAY
It’s definite – Lapua has responded to
the clamour from shooters, especially in
the USA, to make .260R cases listing
them on their 2011 product lists for
distributors. There has been no official
announcement yet, but one assumes
that’s being held back for the 2011
SHOT Show that opens in Las Vegas on
January 18th. The 13 year old 6.5mm
member of the versatile .308 Win ‘family’
has struggled to hit the big time in its
originally envisaged deerstalking role
despite offering excellent performance
allied to modest recoil which makes it
particularly well suited to lightweight the answer to the average maiden’s prayer, it fills
sporting rifles. Recently, it has seen increasing use in the job nicely for a lot of tactical competitors. There
tactical and sniper competition rifles and has proven is another group of 6.5mm users who’ll be delighted
itself as an excellent multi-purpose cartridge for too – the huge numbers of American shooters who
several competition disciplines. (See Chris Parkin’s have adopted Hornady’s 6.5mm Creedmoor, but
rifle build feature August and September 2010 issues aren’t 100% happy with factory brass strength.
of the rifle that he used to win the annual Diggle ‘Fly .260R brass can be reformed to this cartridge and
Shoot’.) It can also be easily modified to an ‘Ackley offers an alternative to the recently introduced Lapua
Improved’ version that gives a useful MV increase and .22-250 Rem cases as a starting point. UK Lapua
excellent accuracy. The one fly in the ointment has importers Hannam’s Reloading Limited are aware of
been its brass, the American factory products widely the introduction but have no prices or delivery dates
seen as being of mediocre consistency and perhaps yet from Lapua’s marketing department. If it is like
more importantly, a bit ‘soft’ in the case-head area and the company’s three most recent introductions –
giving only a few firings before primer pockets loosen 6.5X47L, .308W ‘Palma’ and .22-250 Rem – it’ll be
with stiff loads. A common practice has been to re- very high quality, but also expensive. We at Target
form Lapua .308 Win or .243 Win cases, which not Shooter expect these cases to be in short supply for
only adds extra work, but usually produces a nasty, some time thanks to the size of American demand,
unwanted ‘doughnut’ at the neck-shoulder junction. so suggest that you get advance orders in early if
So while genuine Lapua factory brass may not be you fancy these cases.

Target Shooter 7
I nternet Forums
Where would we be without our internet forums? Of
all the criticism levelled at the internet, you cannot
help but admire the generosity with which people
freely share their knowledge on forums. Yes, forums
can bring out the worst in some, a penchant to
show-off in others but generally they give more than
they take and in today’s world, that’s rather unique!
Although some may say there are too many shooting
forums, I can’t agree. I subscribe to two or three and
I get a great deal of pleasure and useful information
from them. A forum will live or die according to its
popularity – such is the fickleness of the internet.
Many forums are very specialised – in some cases,
devoted to a particular firearm or discipline, others
are more general. Two of my most recent visits have
been to new forums - the UK Full-bore forum at www.
full-bore.co.uk and the Northern Area 22 Benchrest
8 Target Shooter
forum at www.northernarea22benchrest.webs.
com/ The Full-bore forum contains more than a
dozen separate sections to post to, covering most
shooting subjects, plus a few general ones – at the
moment, ‘Grumpy Old Men’ has the most posts!
National Associations also have their own section
and I particularly like the ‘Gun Shop’ section where
members can post their experiences in dealing with
the gun-trade. If you want detailed information on a
particular subject however, there is usually someone
who can help.
The Northern Area 22 Benchrest site is, by contrast, a
‘single-discipline’ forum devoted to rimfire benchrest
shooting and so appeals only to those specifically
interested in that discipline. As such, it attracts a lot
less traffic than the Full-bore site, which is growing
by the day and ideal for those who like to ‘drop-in’
daily for a chat.
Got a favourite forum? Let us know about it.
 Target Shooter 9
A Big Bird and Your Sport
While many of us worry about Keith Vaz MP and his
Home Affairs Select Committee recommendations in
the aftermath of last summer’s Cumbrian shootings,
few British shooters are aware of how concerns
over the wellbeing of a large North American avian
scavenger have initiated processes that pose more
insidious but potentially greater threats to the shooting
sports. Three years ago California banned the use
of bullets that contain any lead including lead-cored
copper jacketed types, for ‘hunting’ over large areas
of the state.
The driver for California Assembly Bill 821 was the health
of the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus),
the USA’s largest bird and one extinct in the wild until
a number of individuals raised in captivity were used
to re-establish the species. Sadly, one in four released
birds died, and post-mortem examinations identified
lead poisoning – literally, not in the common usage
of the phrase meaning ‘shot’. It seems that with the
Condors’ main food source being animal carcasses,
they ate rather a lot of shot deer which had either not
been recovered by the hunter, or butchered in the field
with unwanted bits dumped. Modern high-velocity
expanding bullets break up explosively in the quarry
releasing lead fragments, and the birds ingested
enough contaminated meat to kill them.
Bad news for condors, and some American sporting
shooters who have to buy expensive solid copper
bullets, but how does this affect us? Conservationists
read each others’ papers and talk to each other
at conventions, and such findings have a wider
application to carrion eaters which includes some of
our RSPB’s sacrosanct raptor species. There are all
10 Target Shooter
those rabbits shot with lead bullet HP .22s, or foxes
with high velocity centrefires and abandoned in our
countryside as worthless vermin. Likewise, lost game
birds or shot pest species left lying around full of lead
shotgun pellets – you get the picture!
A scientist who is a competitive shooter passed on
concerns to TargetShooter advising that DEFRA
is currently looking closely at this issue. So far as
poisoned wildlife is concerned, it is mostly about
specialised carrion-eaters that have very active
digestive systems which dissolve lead particles that
would pass through other birds or animals without
being ingested. However, the Californian condor has
got environmentalists and conservationists het up
about heavy metal, especially lead, contamination in
the environment generally. The scientist explains that
recently introduced tests are so sensitive that minute
traces show up at levels that wouldn’t have registered as
recently as 10 years ago. With the metal’s persistence
in the body, doctors and conservationists take the view
that any trace found is serious and the precautionary
principle should be applied with sources identified and
shut down, especially if there is the slightest risk of
contaminated groundwater supplies. This concern has
already caused many older rifle ranges to be closed
down in Finland, and bans and limitations on lead core
bullets are increasingly being applied in continental
Europe. This obviously has a potential impact on
target shooting if anybody ever finds even minutely
contaminated water running off range backstops –
we have to hope not. Of course, there are those with
an anti-shooting agenda who seize on any concern,
legitimate or imagined, to assist in their campaigns
to shut shooting down and make gun ownership
more expensive and difficult.
N ew 5.56mm
Ammunition
NATO M855A1 US the M855 round’s ballistics.

So now we have ‘the answer’ to the problem, the

Linked to the above story, the US army recently 5.56mm M855A1 EPR (Enhanced Performance
started the widespread issue of a new version Round) that not only (allegedly) kills people
of the M855 5.56mm smallarms ammunition quicker and better but saves the environment by
that has claimed ‘green’ (no-lead) credentials. not spreading toxic lead particles around.
Mind you, this may be putting a gloss on one
of the longest running military equipment stories So, what’s different with this A1 (Alternate #1)
around, one in which the West’s military, in version from the original. What is the same is
particular the US Army comes out as showing that both employ 62gn bullets which in turn
consistently poor judgement. Having killed off employ two core sections, the front one being a
successful post-WW2 British 7mm assault rifle steel semi-AP penetrator type, and although MV
cartridge developments through an insistence is claimed as ‘higher’ for the A1 version, have
that the standard NATO rifle and ammunition near identical trajectories to 350yd, so obviously
needed comparable performance to the old have similar external ballistics performance,
.30-06 Springfield round – to produce the range and wind-bucking ability. The A1 is
7.62mm round that generates far too much heat claimed to be more accurate – but have you
and recoil to be used in a proper assault rifle – ever heard of a new military cartridge that didn’t
the Americans did a radical about-turn in 1982 wear this label? What is different is materials,
and forced the 5.56mm round onto its NATO construction methods, and the size/weight of
allies. Lovely little cartridge that 5.56mm / .223 the steel penetrator section. The A1’s gilding
Rem is, it has a rather serious deficiency from a metal jacket is ‘reverse-drawn’, ie has a solid
soldier’s point of view – it’s very bad at disabling base and open front like a HPBT match bullet.
people, especially tough, highly motivated While the M855 has a slightly hardened lead
people like Taliban fighters. So ever since the rear-core section, the A1 version originally used
US forces first started using the M193 55gn bismuth-tin alloy, recently changed to solid
version in Vietnam in the 1960s, there has been copper. And finally, while the M855’s steel
a search for more lethal versions, first the 62gn ‘penetrator’ is a truncated cone entirely enclosed
steel tipped FN SS109 bullet design adopted within the jacket, the M855A1’s is a ‘stacked
by the US forces under the M855 designation pyramid’ that weighs twice as much as the older
followed more recently
by the partial adoption of M855A1 – 01: The new M855A1 EPR cartridge and bullet
the 6.8mm Remington
SPC with its larger
calibre (0.277” dia.)
heavier (115gn) bullet,
but which has still not
provided a solution to
this particular problem
it seems. A substantial
part of the problem is
that a remarkably high
proportion of US Army
(but not Marine) combat
troops have been
equipped with the M4
carbine version of the
AR15 design that trades
the original’s 20” barrel
for a severely truncated
368mm (14.5”) tube with
the inevitable effect on

Target Shooter 11
Front Cover credit - Andrew Venables and It’s been a blast!
WMS Firearms Training wish you a very Happy To all who are reading this, looking at the picture
Christmas and a healthy, prosperous New Year! and wondering what it’s all about, check out the
web site read the articles, listen to those who
As you can see from the picture on the home have discovered us and what we do. Then book
page of our web site: www.wms-firearmstrain- a day, it’s going to be the best thing you have
ing.org we are cold, snowy and fully operational done with a rifle……yours or ours!
all year round. If you plan to shoot this winter
you are welcome to do it with us at WMS. The Very best wishes for 2011
site is just off a main arterial A road and the
private road up to our base is always accessible Yours sincerely
by 4x4, yours or ours.
Andrew Venables
Our local accommodation list includes great www.wms-firearmstraining.org
places to stay. Eat, drink, smile and sit around 07767 365804
an open fire staring into the glow reviewing the Ev: 01686 440782 / Of: 01686 413030
day’s challenges and triumphs. Who hit what,
missed what and made those priceless first
round hits that do so much for our skill and
confidence levels.

To all who have enjoyed days with us, thank you

for your support, encouragement and company.
We look forward to seeing you again and often
in 2011. Thank you for your reviews, articles,
testimonials, referrals and hard earned money.
12 Target Shooter
 moves forward making it
nose heavy – just like the
late 19th century 210gn
British 0.303 and 173gn
7mm Mauser bullets that
had a reputation for being
wonderful penetrators
and terrible manstoppers.
Ever since, military
bullet designers have
been making smallarms
projectiles increasingly
base-heavy, so they
will tumble immediately
after penetrating tissue.
However, the US Army
claims to have reinvented
the laws of physics and
wound ballistics, but
never mind the M855A1
is ‘green’ so presumably
a ‘green’ President and
Congress are delighted,
and Greenpeace too
one imagines! (And ATK
likewise, given that is has
received a contract to
M855A1-02: M855 and M855A1 bullets and internals. The manufacture 200 million
A1 version shown is the earlier bismuth-tin rear-core rounds at the former US
version that gave inconsistent ballistics in hot climates Government Lake City
version and has an exposed ‘arrow-head’ tip. Arsenal plant.) It is said
the US Marine Corps is no more convinced of
Terminal performance is claimed to be the ‘benefits’ of the M855A1 than it is of the M4
significantly better than the M855’s (and carbine, and has adopted a new lead core design,
standard 150gn FMJBT M80 7.62X51mm too) on codename SOST that uses a 62gn Open-Tip
‘soft’ (euphemism for people!) and ‘hard’ (body projectile. (Actually, a Federal Cartridge / ATK
armour, vehicle bodies, steel plate etc) targets. developed hollow-point boat-tail match type, but
The reason for the former is that unlike the M855 ‘hollow-point’ is a ‘no-no’ in military speak likely
and M80 (and for that matter every military FMJ to see anyone who utters it court-martialled as
bullet since the Germans’ ‘S-Patrone’ of 1904 it ‘implies’ a Dum-Dum type bullet.) Another
and British .303 MkVII of 1910), performance interesting aspect of the army’s M855A1 is that
is not ‘yaw dependant’ (ie it doesn’t tumble on it operates at an unspecified higher chamber
penetration). The hard target claim is not hard to pressure than the already massively ‘hot’ M855,
believe given the heavier, pointed and exposed and of course the current primary combat zone
steel tip – it’s bound to go through a lot of things is Afghanistan which sees some seriously high
better. summer temperatures. How can we buy shares
in whoever manufactures replacement M16A2
Now, there are some interesting design and and M4 bolts and buffer assemblies?
performance issues here. If you have the same
overall weight, similar jacket weight, and a
twice as heavy nose core section (allied to light
copper replacing heavy lead for the rear core), it
stands to reason the projectile’s centre of gravity
Target Shooter 13
 Calendar of events over the next few months
If your club or association has events you want to publicise here then email us.
8 Jan MLAGB RCO Endorsement Course
(National Shooting Centre (NSC), Bisley)
Contact(s): Phyllis Farnan
9 Jan Civilian Service Rifle competition
(National Shooting Centre (NSC), Bisley)
Civilian Service Rifle competitions are held
throughout the year.
Contact Mark Bradley for further information.
15 Jan NRA Shooting Club Day (National
Shooting Centre (NSC), Bisley)
Multi-discipline NRA Shooting Club Day.
Targets have been booked on Melville and at
100, 200, 600 and 1000 yards. All disciplines
welcome. Open to all full members of the NRA
who have completed and returned the
registration form which is available on the
NRA website.
If you would like to attend you must book
in at least a week in advance by contacting
Charles Perry.
27 Jan NRA Shooting Club Day (National
Shooting Centre (NSC), Bisley)
Multi-discipline NRA Shooting Club Day.
Targets have been booked on Melville and at
100, 200, 300 and 1000 yards. All disciplines
welcome.
Open to all full members of the NRA who have
completed and returned the registration form
which is available on the NRA website.
If you would like to attend you must book
in at least a week in advance by contacting
Charles Perry.
19 Feb Target Shotgun Festival (National
Shooting Centre (NSC), Bisley)
The Target Shotgun Festival has unique and
challenging competition stages that are
engaged with solid slug, SG/buckshot and
birdshot ammunition. These targets are
arranged to test any competitor skills in a
friendly and safe manner.
Contact Brian Thomas

Welcome to GT Shooting.
The premier shooting sports shop in Surrey

Fullbore & .22LR Optics

Black Power Ammunition
Air Rifles and Pistols Reloading equipment
Used rifles and Pistols and more...

Our premises are located at

53 Chipstead Valley Road, Coulsdon, Surrey, CR5 2RB
www.gtshooting.co.uk

Tel: 020 8660 6843

Fax: 020 8660 6843

14 TargetWe are conveniently situated near the M23 & M25.

Shooter
Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 10.00am - 5.30pm
 The Digital Media
Revolution for
Shooting Sports
- Continued.

The New Galaxy

Tab

by Carl Boswell
No doubt some of you have been enticed by the superficially, but here we can spend a little more
early sales before Christmas and even those time looking at this Android based machine.
that started on Boxing Day. Having watched the Here we are not going to be looking much at the
news this year seems to be the biggest sales geek tech specs, but more on what helps you
ever, assuredly people are trying to beat the use it. More importantly I want to look at how
upcoming VAT increase. you can use this to view this magazine and get
Some of you might even have purchased some the most out of it to support your interest, in your
of big items that everyone is talking about, sport.
including a new laptop, or even a digital pad of
some sort. First of all, don’t be put off by some of the reviews
Well this article is for you! We have talked about
saying that it looks a bit plastic. It does not and
the iPad a number of times over the last few the external design of the Tab is as good as the
months and to be honest it is still the market iPad. The other major criticism is that the Tab
leader for me! Even with its inability to enable has a small screen. Well this has its pros and
flash, it is just so slick!! cons to be honest.
Personally I like it as it is easy to transport, as
I have noticed a number of digital pads aimed at it can go in your jacket pocket or rucksack quite
the home shopping front just before Christmas. easily. (The one thing you do need to realise, as
Some of these are glorified internet browsers, the specification of the tab screen is 1024x600,
with little or no memory. So let’s hope that you is that when viewing most websites to lock the
have not gone for the cheaper option. As the old screen into landscape/ horizontal mode. The
cliché goes, you get what you pay for!! reasons are that, a. the text will be too small
in portrait mode and b. some websites do not
Here we look at the newest pad on the Market, translate well in some of the browsers, extending
going out just in time for Christmas, the images out of sync). All other criticism you have
Galaxy Tab. We looked at this last month very read are superfluous to be honest as they come
Target Shooter 15
down to taste. It all depends on what you want?? without any distortions like Safari. It’s also free.
Dolphin HD: This little browser is excellent.
To be honest the lack of a consistent well Although it distorts some websites in portrait
thought out browser for the Tab is one of its few mode, it is easy to use and reasonably intuitive.
drawbacks. Something the iPad does not suffer Some versions do cost, but like all apps their
from, with the consistent and well established cost is relative. I’d you wanted a slight upgrade
Safari browser. I have tried a few and instead of on the standard browser this would be it for
saying what does not work, let’s look at the ones some features. Others like using flash do tend
that do; to hang a little, which is disconcerting.
Firefox: In its infancy on Android, but we may Standard Browser: Works well enough and does
see this being the leader in the near future, ‘what it says in on the tin’. Again this extends
because of the support for the full version on the websites out of sync, so lock your screen into
PC. At present it is it’s Beta testing and does not the horizontal position. It can enable flash and
support flash, but this is coming. Apart from that does this pretty well. Some intuitive features are
it seems to work well and generates websites missing so it can be limited.
16 Target Shooter
 speed to the number of
people on the internet at
any given time. I would
always, always USE THE
DOWNLOAD VERSION.
SAVE THE MAGAZINE TO
YOU DESKTOP. Why? It
should only take minutes
and it is saved for all future
referencing. The online
version is really only for
browsing! For you the
serious reader the download
Conclusion, stick with the standard browser, version, whether flash or
but download and then upgrade Firefox as it PDF, is seriously the way to read the magazine.
develops. This should act in a similar way to Although the Tab supports online viewing in flash,
your PC, if you use this browser. As it’s free it’s it does not support the .exe download offered on
worth getting from the Firefox website - http:// our website. This only works on a PC. So buying
www.mozilla.com/en-US/m/beta into an Android tablet or phone thinking it will act
like a PC is a serious error, as they do not. We
Flash or not to flash!!!!!! have all of this technology floating around but
This is the big question. Sorry about this play unfortunately no real consistency between any
on words, but it is the big question for me at the of them!!
moment regards viewing a lot of things on the However, technology still moves onward and
Internet. upward! We have these new products like the
We based this magazine on online the flash digital pads we are looking at in this article, plus
technology. This still works for PC based new, cheaper more accessible software; now
reading, as this is how many online magazines know as apps.
work. For me the online versions are affected With this is mind there are a number of apps like
by a multitude of issues ranging from server

Target Shooter 17
 Goodreader on the iPad and ezPDF Reader
on the Galaxy Tab that bring the humble PDF
document alive and are a suitable way to
view magazines and books in this form. Both
cost about £1 and can be used for a variety
of documents. Although the PDF format is old
and many said it had lost its way in terms of
what it was supposed to do - be a digital book
- in fact it is the most versatile format around
and will act like other iPad digital magazines
or even like a flash magazine on Android,
using the two apps mentioned above. (Do be
careful if you have and iPad and want to buy
ezPDF for this product, the app unfortunately
has many issues including being incredibly
hard to use, so do not buy it at the moment for
an apple product. For Android it is perfect........
Go figure!!!

So in conclusion, always download you

favourite magazine onto your digital pad -
or computer for that matter - trying the PDF
version as these are as good as the flash or

exPDF Reader - using this you can downlaod

and store all your PDF documents,
including Target Shooter Magazine. it
is an enjoyable reading experience and
also lets you access the ads via the web!!

18 Target Shooter
 free others cost.
The ones I went for are similar to
the ones I have on the iPad, such
as;
Bubble level, thermometer,
barometer, etc. There are a
number of shooting related
products, like those reviewed
last month and others like basic
ballistics programs...... Sorry,
apps!!! - see pic on opposite
page, but this is no all of them!!

What is needed are more of

these ballistics and innovative
shooting apps. Although ones I
mentioned last month are also
available for the Tab, like the
Kindle Amazon app. (We also
need more of these for the iPad).
One app I have found recently
useful is a diary based system for
training and sport development.
On Android, Jorte is a good app
for this. There are a few others
that can be easily adapted for
your training and shooting record
needs. You just need to think out
of the box!

The Galaxy Tab has many great

features and can be used more
extensively than I am mentioning
here. Personally, all of my routines
for work, rest and play are now
digital and portable - backed up
on a server just in case!
Target Shooter Magazine is excellent to view using ezPDF As the Tab is now going for about
reader on the Galaxy Tab £399 at some high street retailers
it is a viable option, as the price
iPad magazine versions using the apps I have
has shrunk by hundreds of pounds in just less
mentioned.
than two months. It’s a good alternative to the
iPad. It is not the same by any stretch of the
The one thing the Tab, or any other Android
imagination. It has a lot going for it, as it can
based browser for that matter, really suffers from
act as a phone, WIFI digital pad, camera, video
at this moment in time is the aforementioned
record, etc, etc.
browser issue, plus the need to develop a wider
range of apps that are on par with those offered
Basically have a look and if this type of digital
on the iPad. As I said before, the software for
system is for you than it is worth the purchase.
the iPad is just slick in every way. I have only
It is a toss of a coin and personal taste that
had one bad experience, which is good.
determines if you go for this system or the apple
For the Galaxy Tab there are some shooting
version. Personally I like both, but for different
related apps that are really useful. Some are
reasons! Happy shopping!

Target Shooter 19
 iPad and Tab
size comparison.
Both are great for
different reasons.

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20 Target Shooter
Bi-pods are us! - The Centershot Engineering
Bi-pod
By Vince Bottomley
The march of bi-pod design – the Harris looks a bit lost in there!
At the beginning of November, the European bullet exits the barrel it creates an equal and
F Class Championships sponsored by Tim opposite reaction. In other words, it pushes the
Hannam were held at Bisley. About half the 160 rifle backwards – it recoils. The full ‘benchrest’
odd entry were F/TR shooters – off a bi-pod. We set-up used by Open Class shooters copes
could have held a side event for bi-pod building well with recoil but, when the rubber feet of
– there were some weird and wonderful devices, the Harris are planted on a grass firing-point, it
though it’s nice to see the odd Harris still being doesn’t work quite as well. If your rifle can’t slide
used! rearwards, the muzzle will lift. Simple physics –
but not good.
So why is bi-pod building – or buying – such a So, any bi-pod which is going to improve
popular pastime with F/TR shooters? We soon on the Harris needs to address the recoil
realised that the Harris - although a fine bi-pod problem. Whilst we’re at it, let’s widen the legs
for most applications - just can’t offer the stability for increased stability and, if we can make the
needed to reproduce the accuracy that our rifles vertical-adjustment accessible from the prone
are capable of. A more stable bi-pod is called position, so much the better. Oh, and let’s not
for. forget cant – not all our firing-points are level.
More stable? In addition to stability, the Harris For all its failings, the Harris has one great ‘plus’
does not cope too well with recoil. When the – it’s light – just 12 ounces. Many have made
Target Shooter 21
Left, John Weil’s prototype at Bisley in 2009 and right, Canadian Henry Remple’s design
bi-pods that are more stable, adjustable, etc.
but none have made one lighter! Why is weight
an issue? The all-up weight of an F/TR rifle
with scope and bi-pod must not exceed 18lbs
2oz and, when we are looking for heavy barrels
32 inches in length – which seems to be the
fashion – those ounces are critical. My own rifle
for example weighs 16lbs 10oz so I have only
11/2 lbs available for a bi-pod.
Probably the finest bipod ever put into production
is Canadian Henry Remple’s effort. It fills every
criteria - except the weight issue - it weighs a
massive 3.5lbs., far too heavy for a competitive
F/TR rifle. It is however a masterpiece of
engineering design and manufacture and, when
I was at Bisley for the 2009 World F Class
Championships, I saw what looked remarkably
similar to a Henry Remple but had been on a
diet! (see pic).
The bi-pod was supporting a rifle belonging to
John Weil, a member of the Gold Medal winning
American F/TR team. John’s rifle was a modest
308 Savage F/TR rifle but he shot amazingly
well and I well remember him putting in the top
F/TR score at 1000 yards on the final day with
a score that bettered most of the Open Class
shooters! Clearly, his bi-pod was working.
When I say ‘had received the treatment’ I’m
talking about lightening, for there is nothing on

Ian Dixon’s ingenious home-made aluminium and carbon fibre bi-pod

22 Target Shooter
 Stability
Wow – under 19 ounces – that’s light!
At full width, the Censhot has a 20 inch span
Henry Remple’s ‘pod which needs improving. with a height of 5 inches (to the underside of the
John’s bi-pod was pared-down to the absolute fore-end). Looking at it the other way, you can
minimum thanks to extensive milling of the achieve a height of 9 inches though the span will
aluminium bits and substituting Remple’s only be 16 inches.
robust aluminium struts with carbon-fibre rods.
John’s ‘pod created plenty of attention and Recoil
would probably have won the World Bi-pod The Censhot handles recoil by using skids – or
Building Championship – if it existed - though skis – which allow the rifle to recoil properly. This
Brit shooter Ian Dixon’s effort would have run it is a tried and tested method used by most F/
a close second. (see pic). TR bi-pod builders. On my home made ‘pods, I
Well, Ian is still using his bi-pod and so is John always make the skis quite large otherwise they
but the difference? John’s is now in production won’t work on a grassy firing-point.
– see www.censhot.com and you can even
buy one in the UK as Brian Fox of Fox Firearms Fixing
www.foxfirearmsuk.com is importing them. The bi-pod is designed to fix to a standard
Not only that, I was given one for the F Class accessory rail (Anschutz-type rail) let into the
Europeans so I can certainly give it a full report underside of the fore-end. It is held in place with
but before I do, let’s have a detailed look. just one thumb-screw and can be attached or
Weight removed in seconds without tools. I don’t have
My first look was at the all-important weight issue an accessory rail on my F/TR rifle, so I had to
and I was shocked to see that it weighed a scant get a bit creative.
1lb 3 oz.! This is really light and you certainly
won’t find a comparable bi-pod in production Adjustment
which is lighter, though I have seen a few home- This is one of the great strengths of the Censhot.
made efforts which run it close. It can easily and quickly be adjusted for height

Target Shooter 23
These shots show the Censhot in the two extremes of adjustment. They also show why a
decent-sized ski is needed if they are not to be snagged by grassy firing-points!
with one hand, from the prone position, using which benchresters use on the rifle’s fore-end
the small capstan wheel. This might not seem to assist riding the bags. It worked and reduced
too important if you don’t shoot F Class but it the flexing.
definitely is. As you shoot, the bi-pod settles,
the back-bag settles and frequent adjustment is My very first shoot with the Censhot was in the
necessary. Of course, not all bi-pods adjust so warm-up shoot just before the first match of the
easily, so shooters will compromise by shuffling Europeans at Bisley. It did feel a little different to
the rear bag to make up for a change of height my own ‘pod, though my shots were impacting
up-front. The bi-pod is also adjustable for cant where I had aimed so I was feeling quite happy
with a single locking-lever that can be easily with the Censhot. Following the warm-up, a
reached from the prone position. fellow shooter approached me and commented
on the ‘pod. “Brave man – shooting a new ‘pod
Construction in the Europeans.” That got me thinking – was I
You will marvel at the amount of work that has being foolish trying something new in the biggest
gone into this bi-pod. It is not cheap but I certainly competition of the year? I panicked and put my
would not like to make one for the money asked. old bi-pod back on! OK, call me a coward but I’ll
It is beautifully engineered from aluminium save the Censhot test for a club shoot.
alloys, brass, stainless-steel and carbon-fibre. It
is quite simply the ultimate in bi-pods. My bi-pod I didn’t have to wait long. The week after the
is plain black (by request) but a wide variety of Europeans I was shooting F Class at my home
colours are offered and you country’s flag can range so now an opportunity to try the Censhot
be superimposed on the legs if required. in less demanding conditions. Initially, I made
a poor start as did not have the ‘cant’ lever tight
Shooting the Censhot enough and my rifle was ‘torquing’ with every
Although light, the bi-pod initially feels quite rigid shot. Stupidly, it took me a while to cotton-on to
but once it is supporting a 17 lb. rifle, it does this but when I tightened up the lever my scores
exhibit some ‘flexibility’. As the rifle is gently immediately improved.
moved forward and backward on the rear bag,
the carbon-fibre legs tend to flex a little before The method of fixing the ‘pod to the accessory
the skids start to move. The skids are made of a rail is simple and convenient with a single
strange fibrous material which I couldn’t identify pivot-point. Many bi-pods use a flat base (see
and were not particularly slick. In an attempt to pic at top of article) which clamps to the fore-end
improve matters, I covered my skids with some which reduces the tendency to cant, though now
strips of stock tape – that very slippy PTFE tape I am aware that the lever must be tight, it won’t
24 Target Shooter
happen again. The bi-pod recoiled very well – shot placement as the rifle’s substantial weight
the Teflon tape definitely improved things on soft is always bearing-down on the bi-pod.
grass and it was very easy to adjust for height
between shots. My usual bi-pod is home-made Of course, although I used the Censhot to shoot
(weighing 1lb. 6oz.) as there isn’t a bi-pod on F Class, shooters use bi-pods for many different
the market which is light enough to keep my rifle applications so let’s not label the Censhot as
‘legal’ – except for the Censhot – or a Harris! an F/TR only bi-pod. Beyond the Harris and
its clones, there is little to choose from and I’m
Without doubt, the Censhot is a great bi-pod – looking forward to trying the Censhot on my
maybe THE greatest bi-pod. It ticks all the boxes, tactical rifle, where it should offer a noticeable
particularly weight and ease of adjustment. It improvement over a Harris.
does flex a little but this does not appear to be
over-detrimental and it’s so light that with the At £395, this is not a cheap bi-pod - probably
weight you save you can add another couple twice the price of any other bi-pod – like the
of inches to your (new) barrel (an inch of barrel Sinclair. You could buy three Fito Big Foots for
weighs 3 to 4 ounces) or maybe go for a heavier the same money but then again, the Fito weighs
profile and for me, this is one of the major twice as much as the Censhot. In serious F/
reasons that I would buy a Censhot – it will allow TR competition, the bi-pod is as critical as any
you to use a really long, heavy barrel on your F/ other element of your rifle – scope, barrel, stock
TR rig and maximise on the ballistics of the 308 etc. – in fact, when you think that an unfinished
cartridge. laminate stock blank will cost the same money, it
makes the Censhot appear good value. Like the
Conclusions man said “Buy the best and cry once!”
Have I any criticisms? I would definitely make
the skis longer to cope better with UK firing Fox Firearms - www.foxfirearmsuk.com -
points, which are invariably soft grass – at least currently have a few Censhots in stock. If you
the ones we shoot on in the GBFCA League are. want to ‘try before you buy’ I’m more than
Also, the ‘pod is prone to canting with the torque happy to let you try mine if you can make the
reaction of the rifle and needs to be locked trip to Diggle for one of our F Class shoots –
really tight as the ‘single-pivot’ method of fixing see calendar www.diggleranges.com. E-mail
creates a ‘lever-arm’ which exaggerates this. me first on vinceb@6ppc.fsnet.co.uk and I’ll
Some shooters were worried about a slight ‘slop’ arrange for you to use it.
in the linkages but I don’t think this affects the
Target Shooter 25
 Tel: 0161 408 3555
Mob: 07861 399066
e-mail: stuart@ospreyrifles.com
URL: www.ospreyrifles.com

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26 Target Shooter
 Shooting the Black Powder Pistol
Part 11
by Chris Risebrook
It may come as a bit of a relief that there is no
attempt at any history relating to this month’s gun,
simply because I don’t have any!. This was my last
auction acquisition, and frankly, it was a snip. It
was towards the end, and I think everyone had lost
interest, or run out of money, or both, and so it
was added to my motley collection of oddities.
Photo 1 shows the revolver in all its glory(!);
actually, it is not in too bad condition,
particularly compared to the Cooper and
the Manhattan. I know absolutely nothing
about these revolvers, so it is a voyage of
discovery for me. It appears to be of an open
frame Webley/Bentley type, although I stand
to be corrected on this point, and practically
every other point for that matter! Whatever, It
is a 90 bore (that’s about .36 to you and me)
six shot open frame percussion with a 4.5 inch
barrel, and is
double action only. Practical Pistol circa 1850
anyone? Somehow the picture of cammos,
Raybans and top hats doesn’t quite gel! It was,
of course, a pocket revolver designed for short
range self defence and the lack of hammer spur
prevented snagging. Big pockets in those days!.
It has a fixed rearsight and a drift adjustable
Target Shooter 27
 Colt any sleepless nights.
It has a safety - of sorts -
consisting of a spring on the left side of
the frame, see Photo 4. The idea is to give
a slight pull to the trigger and then press
the spring into a notch on the hammer.
Hopefully, it will hold the hammer
clear of the nipple; any pressure
on the trigger thereafter causes the spring to
release so the gun can fire. Bearing
in mind it does not have a rebounding
hammer and the hammer face rests
on the percussion cap, was anyone
really stupid enough to rely on such a
system? Just about the quickest way to
get gunfighter’s limp! |The only safe way
to carry it would be with one chamber
uncapped.
On the question of caps, although the double
foresight, although they are very fine, and for
action trigger pull is very heavy and the
double action work would have been pretty
spring is strong, giving a ghastly trigger pull,
useless. Photo 2 shows the substantial fences
the hammer throw is short, and insufficient
between the chambers which would certainly
to fire a conventional cap, and I suspect
have helped to reduce the possibility of chain-fire;
this was always so. This presents
but their real purpose is cylinder lock-up.
exactly the same problem as with the pepperbox
There are no notches for the bolt stop
revolvers with their double action Allen designed
simply because there isn’t one!.
bar hammers. I believe pepperboxes were
Instead, a peg rises from the floor of the action
supplied with very thin caps to obviate this
and jams itself against the fence, see Photo 3.
problem, and I wonder if the same pertains
Primitive, but very effective; there is virtually no
to these revolvers. I mentioned in a previous
cylinder end play, and lock-up is very tight. The
article that it is possible with a forming tool to
idea certainly did not set the gun-making world
make caps from thin foil, and these work if you
on fire, and it would not have caused Samuel

28 Target Shooter

can find “hot” enough toy caps to put inside
them. Making these caps is fiddly in the extreme,
but they work in this revolver. Whether there is
enough power to actually ignite the charge is
another matter.
Photo 5 shows the pistol with the grips and the
side plate removed to show the lockwork., and the
substantial spring - I would not care to try
making one of those! In most revolvers
the pivot screw for the hammer is a fairly
substantial item, but here it is surprisingly
small. The whole gun is neatly engraved and
generally well made, with finely chequered
walnut grips with an engraved steel grip cap.
Dissambly is by the usual Colt method of screw
and wedge, and the rammer is held by a spring
clamp under the barrel.
The only marking on the gun ,apart from the
Birmingham proof marks, is the legend on the
top flat of the barrel “James Harper Maker”. The
Birmingham Directory of 1849 shows a James
Harper, gun and pistol manufacturer and gun
implement maker at 85 Weaman Street, just up
the road from William Tranter. So far, this all I
have been able to discover about him, but there
is currently for sale on the internet a transitional
revolver c.1850 by a James Harper, which may
or may not be the same person. Researching
these old guns is fascinating, and if anyone can
throw any light on James Harper, his revolvers,
or this genre of revolver in general, it would be
greatly appreciated.
One final thought: rather like the pepperboxes,
were these guns ever actually fired or just used
to concentrate the mind of a would-be assailant?
They seem so impractical - and sometimes so
downright dangerous, that from a self-defence
point of view, the idea of chucking rocks seems
quite attractive!
Target Shooter 29
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30 Target Shooter
MY LOCAL GUNSHOP: ‘HANNAMS’

by Laurie Holland
I first visited ‘Tim Hannam’ over 20 years ago, Peckfield Lodge, a Victorian pile midway
and have become an increasingly regular between Leeds and York and until recently,
customer as it built up its handloading tools and smack on the historic Great North Road, or A1
components business. Despite efforts to protect as people call it nowadays. With the Highways
my bank balance, I just can’t stay away – twenty Agency having recently diverted this stretch to
or so years ago it was Nosler 150gn ‘Solid Base’ a brand new motorway, the HGVs now pass by
0.308” boat-tail soft-points that outshot match with a barely heard rumble half a mile away, and
bullets in my TR rifle but cost £9 per hundred Peckfield Lodge has regained its ancient rural
(sigh – happy days!); today, it’s Forster dies tranquillity, horses grazing peacefully in adjacent
and bushings, Berger and Lapua bullets, Lapua fields. Fortunately, it retains fast transport links
brass, and Vihtavuori powders. with a junction to the new A1(M) just down the
road, and the M62 transpennine motorway
What’s prompted this look is that it’s all-change close too. The buildings owe their existence to
at Hannams, but no change. To explain this this location having once hosted a business that
conundrum, one of the business’s co-founders, provided fresh horses for London to Edinburgh
the one who donated the eponymous trading stagecoaches, the stable-block now the main
name – Tim Hannam – has dropped out to warehouse. Good road transport links are every
concentrate on opportunities abroad. The bit as vital to today’s business as they were to
business is now owned by Pat Hannam
who also becomes the managing
director of a new limited company called
Hannam’s Reloading Limited. The good
news is that there is no change from the
customer’s point of view, Pat confirming
that they’ll continue doing that which they
do so well now, continuing to seek out
new products that fit in with their existing
ranges. There is one welcome change as
Hannams is marketing itself more actively
and an early manifestation of this was its
sponsorship of last November’s F-Class
European Championship meeting with
hopes of persuading Vihtavuori to come
on board this year. Pat Hannam, proprietor and managing
director of Hannam’s Reloading Limited
Hannams’ premises are adjacent to

Target Shooter 31
 There isn’t a shop as such, rather a
reception area and sales counter
what you want, phone or email it
through and the order will be waiting
– if you want to see what’s available,
Hannam’s people will provide advice
and bring items to the counter for you
to have a look at.

When ‘Tim Hannam’ came into

being back 1983, it only distributed
and sold two product ranges, Lee
reloading tools and MTM ammunition
boxes. It still handles them which
tells you something about service
levels considering US producers
usually see a need to change UK
distributors every three or four years.
its equine orientated predecessor. Wholesale, Many things have changed – like
or ‘trade’, activities account for around 90% of many in the gun trade who survived the fallout
sales, overnight deliveries to gunshops around from the 1997 pistol ban, Hannams rethought its
the country a vital part of the service that business model and now specialises in a limited
Hannams offers. number of fields in depth, which as the new name
suggests, have handloading gear, ammunition
Hang on, the title says ‘Local Gunshop’! and components at their core. There are three
Hannams happily serves retail customers too tool and accessories ranges: Lee, Lyman, and
whether personal shoppers or through mail recently acquired Forster, each offering a full
order. It’s not just ‘locals’ like me who call in, as range of tools. The Hannam name was also
Pat says that the motorway links produce people linked to Hornady and its comprehensive range
from all over the country who drop in to collect of reloading tools, factory cartridges and bullets
an order. If you call, you’ll be made welcome, for many years, but lost the UK distributorship
but don’t expect to find a shop, rather a small role a couple of years ago. Nevertheless, it
customer area and sales counter. If you know continues to stock them, so that’s four ranges,
adding up to at least a dozen presses, scores

A small part of the handloading items in

the warehouse

32 Target Shooter
 Forster Benchrest dies including a
micrometer-top ‘Ultra’ seating die on the right,
and a bushing-bump sizing die (centre)
of ‘press kits’, and goodness knows how many
die-sets. You’ll find lead melting and bullet casting
kits, case tumblers by the stack-full, and black
powder handling gear. Speaking personally, I’m
really glad (except when I get the monthly bank
statement) that Hannams acquired the Forster
agency. Its tools may be more expensive than
some, but produce superb results if fed quality
components. The sole Forster press, the
Co-Ax model is priced at a hefty £275, but sells
so well that Pat Hannam says the company has
difficulty in getting enough from the USA!
Hannam’s is immediately associated with
Finnish Vihtavuori handloading powders,
Lapua cases and bullets
It is company policy to hold an example of
every product in these ranges, more for the
popular lines, although factory gate shortages
sometimes make that goal impossible with a
huge surge in demand for handloading gear in
the USA thanks to President Obama. To handle
and despatch all this gear, the employee count
has grown over the years, now totalling six. Not
only has Hannam held onto many longstanding
product ranges, but there’s no staff turnover with
every sign of this being a ‘happy ship’.
Say ‘Hannams’ to the average handloading
British shooter and he or she thinks ‘Vihtavuori’,
the company having imported and distributed
the Finnish powders for over 20 years, the
range regularly added to. Sticking to Finland, we
have Lapua cases and bullets, their availability
transformed since they moved to the Yorkshire
distributor. While this brass provides the
standard that precision shooters judge other
makes against, there are cheaper bagged
‘Relcom’ cases in stock for a much larger range
of cartridges than the Finnish company caters for.
These mostly Remington made products cover
80 rifle cartridges and a smaller range of pistol
numbers with various calibres and weights of
budget jacketed bullets, hard cast-lead bullets,
and ‘totally lead free’ (electroplated) models,
mostly for pistol-calibre levergun handloaders.
Berger Bullets is a recent and popular addition
to the rifle bullet ranges. Unfortunately, the
demand for some ‘Target’ models has been
so great that they’ve been on back-order with
Target Shooter 33
 Hannam’s in its old name guise was main sponsor of the
2010 F-Class European Championship meeting

the manufacturer for months and Pat is visibly great rifle cleaning aid. The Lyman ‘stable’ also
frustrated when she talks about the supply includes A-Zoom machined metal snap-caps,
situation. Pachmayr butt-pads, grips and accessories,
and the effective Butch’s Bore-Shine powder
The company’s name should be ‘Hannam’s solvent that I and many people I know use. The
Reloading Supplies and Shooting Accessories’ list goes on: Birchwood Casey (targets including
given the number of the latter that it sells. There ‘Shoot-N-C’ and other reactive types; cleaners,
are too many to describe, but I must mention lubricants and a large range of wood and stock
MTM with its huge range of ammunition boxes refinishing materials and oils); Harris bi-pods;
and other products. It’s amazing what you can and another recent addition, the excellent
make from injection moulded ‘plastics’, and the Pro-Shot range of cleaning rods, spear-type
latest innovations are ‘dry’ containers that are jags, phosphor-bronze bore-brushes,
completely waterproof with a rubber O-ring seal bore-guides, and cotton patches that help you
between body and lid. Some are for ammunition, carry out this chore with less wear and tear
including ‘ammo cans’, facsimiles of the olive on you and the barrel. You can see why this
green military boxes in several sizes; larger business has not only survived for nearly 30
containers act as range boxes and ‘Sportsmen’s years, but thrived.
Dry Boxes’ for anglers, farmers, sporting
shooters, gamekeepers and whoever. Pat says If you want to browse Hannam’s stock online,
that boating types have discovered them too its website is in the process of being updated
as they’ll stand up to worse conditions than to provide click-links to all of its suppliers to
shooters ever see, and if they fall overboard, provide detailed product information and you
they float – yellow models are popular as they can already download the company’s price list.
can be seen bobbing around on the briny!
They’re strong enough to double up as seats Contact Details
on the range, boat or riverbank too. Other MTM Hannam’s Reloading Limited, Peckfield Lodge,
accessories are stocked too including gun vices, Great North Road, South Milford, Leeds LS25
range boxes with slot-in ‘arms’ to turn them into 5LJ
rifle cleaning cradles, target holders, shooting tel: 01977 681639
rests..... and more. fax: 01977 684272
Web: www.timhannam.co.uk
Lyman also makes accessories and you’ll E-mail: sales@timhannam.com
find them at Peckfield Lodge: gunsmithing Open – 08.30 to 5.00 Monday to Thursday;
tools, trigger pull gauges, and the bestselling 08.30 to 2.30 Friday; closed over the weekend.
adjustable, rotating ‘Revolution’ gun vice, a
34 Target Shooter
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Target Shooter 35
 The March 8 – 80 x 56 Scope and a new Australian
record!

By RichardWild
Above - The March 8 – 80 x 56 doesn’t overwhelm a rifle like the author first imagined.
Without the sunshade the scope is only 16 inches (407mm) long - shorter than the 60 power
model.
Introduction and Deon appear to be at the top of the ‘scope-tree’
The March range of riflescopes is now well-known these days.
in shooting-circles and is a growing presence on the So when the opportunity came up to test and
winner’s podium. The 8 – 80 x 56 under review is an write about one of March’s new 80 – 80 x 56mm
example of a scope that’s unique in its magnificationscopes, I leapt at it. Having tried several models
range and yet, would still suit a number of target over the past year, I thought I knew what to expect -
disciplines. This versatility is something I am still
owning a 10 – 60 power March had prepared me for
coming to terms with - even after using it successfully
shooting successfully at targets using the highest
in competition. magnification at ranges out to 1500 yards.
So what are we looking at?
March products are manufactured in the Japanese The 8 – 80 x 56 has, at 80 power, the highest zoom-
version of Silicon Valley in Nagano Prefecture. In magnification currently available in the market since
line with the standard Japanese practice, parts are its release at the Shot Show in January 2010. The
sourced from specific feeder companies who produce 8 – 80 comes in a range of reticle options such at
a small range of precision parts. These are then the MTR-1 and MTR-2 (hash marked stadia and
assembled at the Deon Optical Design Corporation. an alternative to mil-dots), simple crosshair and
Each scope is hand fitted and assembled by one crosshair with a range of dot sizes (1/8, 3/32 and
technician. This takes time and a skilled workforce 1/16). Shooter feedback has resulted in an MML

The 20 MOA slip-over rail gives the shooter back the scope-adjustment lost on mounting.
It also makes shooting at 1000 yards and more easily achievable, whilst keeping the scope
around the middle of its elevation track for ranges under 1000 yards.

36 Target Shooter
The rail does add some height to the scope but a cheek-weld is still possible. However,
Kelbly now making 25 MOA inclined rings that will do away with the rail’s necessity
option becoming available for the tactical and This model also comes with a zero stop, which I
F-Class shooter as well. have found to be a great addition for disciplines that
require a lot of scope adjustments. Setting it up for
The first surprising feature about the 8 – 80x is the shortest range means the elevation zero should
that it is not enormous. It is no bigger in size that never be lost and means elevation come-ups to can
most other scopes on the market and smaller than be counted from your chosen zero. I set the March
its main competition. The 8 – 80x 56 weighs 845g up for a 300 metre zero and was able to accurately
(29.8oz) and is 407mm (16in.) long. This is slightly adjust for 400 and 500 metre ranges using my
heavier but shorter than the 10 – 60x option. The existing scope’s elevation settings.
major difference is the scope tube diameter - 34mm Setting up the March
and not the 30mm used in the other models. The test scope came with a scope-ring alignment
One of the tricks that budget scopes use to disguise tool and lapping bar made by Stuart Elliot of BRT
poor lens quality is to increase the thickness of the Shooters Supply, the Australian distributor for
bars in the cross hairs so the eye is immediately March scopes. This really is a ‘must have’ piece of
drawn to, then pushed to, the centre of the image. kit for mounting any scope and is an important tool
Higher end scopes do not use this optical illusion when you are using expensive optical equipment.
and the March’s reticle remains uniformly thin Remember that recoil can bend a scope and a
through the range. poorly aligned scope-tube will suffer torque and
The scope available for testing came with the 3/32nd twisting that will eventually affect accuracy.
MOA dot in the centre of a thin crosshair pattern.
This dot subtends 3/32 of an inch (0.9mm) at 100 Unlike other scope-ring alignment tools, the BRT
yards at 40 power. Back at 1000 yards, with the tool is not pointed. Rather, two flat-ended cylinders
scope on 80 power, the dot sits nicely inside one are used. These offer a more exact indication of
of the 3/4 inch diameter stickers used for target alignment due to the precise mating of the two flat
patching! surfaces.
The turrets are easy to access from a normal bench The need for 34mm scope rings was an issue but
firing-position and come standard with 1/8 MOA Kelbly now makes 34mm rings for the Stolle type
click-adjustment for more precise point of impact dovetail and BRT has commissioned 34mm rings
tuning at long range. Each revolution of the turret with a 25 MOA offset to remove the need for an
works out to be 10 MOA for a total of 60 minutes inclined rail that will help to reduce weight and cost.
of elevation and 40 of windage. The 60 minutes of These will need to have a scope-ring alignment tool
elevation should be adequate but, when you start to make sure the angles on the mounts point the
shooting at 1000 yards and further, a little extra help right direction! Ken Farrell’s 34mm rings are also
is needed. tough customers and sit well on Picatinny type rails.

Target Shooter 37
The zero stop and the parallax ring on this 8 – 80 power March is easy to reach and to adjust.
Having the zero stop locked at 300 metres made life a lot easier dialing in the long ranges.
So the market is well catered for.
The most import thing to do, when the scope is
first installed on the rifle, is to focus the eyepiece
to your eyes. The test scope was severely out
of focus for me and so I set the parallax knob to
infinity and loosened the eyepiece locking-ring with
the unloaded rifle pointed at the sky. Suddenly
the crosshairs leapt into focus - the scope was set
to go. At the range, running through from 8 to 80
power showed the reticle remained sharp across
the power-range.
Each scope comes with a sunshade and a 43 mm
‘modifier disk’ can be added as an optional extra.
Reducing the front lens from 56 to 43 millimetres
effectively cuts light by 40% but it also increases the
depth of focus by 40%. If unnecessary brightness is
reduced and the focus depth increased, a shooter’s
ability to reading mirage is enhanced as the
sight-picture is more defined in difficult conditions.
38 Target Shooter
If like Australia, you regularly shoot in bright, hot or
humid conditions, I would definitely include one with
your purchase.
Adding Elevation
While testing a couple of March scopes recently, I
found that my Stolle action really needed an inclined
mount to get a more efficient use of the 60 MOA
elevation in the March. As an example, using a 7mm
Boo Boo (180 grain Berger at 3050fps) required 21
minutes of adjustment to its 100 metre zero. The
scope topped out at 27 minutes. That means I had
lost over 30 minutes of usable elevation.
Now I needed that lost elevation back as my chosen
course of fire is between 300 and 1000m. To do that
properly the rifle needs to have a rail that places the
centre setting of the scope along the range but at a
point midway for the adjustment. In that way, when
you wind up from the scope’s centre position to get methods of manufacture. But the offset is, of course,
to 1000 you use about the same MOA clicks that a considerably more costly manufacturing process.
you would wind down to get to 300m. While it looks heavy, the March is shorter and lighter
Luckily, BRT Shooters Supplies is now stocking than comparable scopes on the market.
inclined rails for the Stolle dovetail. Proudly made
in Brisbane, they come as a default in 20 and 40 All March scopes are purged with argon gas, which
degree rails – but any angle can be produced on is heavier than the nitrogen usually used in scope
order. The 155mm long rail is machined from manufacture and does not leak. Gas purging is
stainless-steel and polished to a high lustre but any used to minimise internal corrosion and prevent
finish can be ordered. (A similar ‘slip-over’ rail is also internal fogging during quick temperature or humidity
available direct from Kelbly). changes.
A lot of work has gone into the design and
The rail slips over the Stolle’s existing dovetail, manufacture of the scope’s erector tube to lighten
covering it with a slight overhang. The rail is held and strengthen it. The erector tubes are smaller and
in place with six hex screws and will not move once lighter than other brands and a lighter tube means
installed. Following this relatively simple installation, less inertia and internal impact during recoil which
the rail will add an extra 20 minutes of elevation. equals less tendency to incremental damage to the
Confirming the zero demonstrated the additional erector tube and components.
elevation-range and the scope now has 48 minutes It appears that a lot of research has gone into
of usable adjustment from 100 metres. This now minimising the potential damage that a poorly placed
has the Boo Boo shooting to point of aim out to 1500 or designed erector tube can potentially cause to
metres. A little tweak to the rifle’s set up - yes but the March’s internal parts. This also includes heat-
anything that makes long-range shooting easier is a treating key internal parts to reduce friction and
tick in my book. galling during use – as unseen damage can occur
as a result of the sudden stop at the end of the recoil
Internal Construction pulse.
It’s worth stressing from the start that no plastic is March scopes also use a heat treated, flat-type
used in the construction of the March. The scope erector tube spring as the design engineers work
body, for example, is machined from a single piece of on the guiding principle that coil springs tend have a
aluminium bar-stock and all the lenses are glued in. memory problem, regardless of the material. All this
This makes for a structurally solid piece of equipment heat treating means that parts need to be carefully
that is much stronger than possible through other hand-fitted. For example, the focusing-group tube

To introduce our selves we are the United Kingdom Association of

Rimfire and Air Rifle Benchrest Shooting. By that we mean "True
Benchrest Shooting". The Association is recognised by rimfire
shooters across in the UK, with partners across Europe and the rest of
the world, as the presentative body that promotes rimfire and air rifle
benchrest across this country and with other partners in European and
World events.
Visit our website for news about national and international
competitions that all can ‘have a go at’. From novice to champion
shooter, everyone is welcome
www.benchrest22.org Target Shooter 39
 My 2.067 inch group shot on the 1000 yard target using a 6.5 x 47 and the 8-80 March – a
new Australian record.

40 Target Shooter
 unit (eye piece assembly) needs to be hand-lapped
to fit the focusing-tube liner body.
The heart of the scope, at least from the shooter’s
perspective, is the lens. March scopes use an
extra-low dispersion (ED) lens. March’s product
notes that ED lenses have a smaller refractive
index than a typical optical lens in the blue to red
wavelength. This enables superior sharpness
and color correction by reducing chromatic
aberration. These specialty lenses are often used in
microscopes, telescopes, semiconductor steppers,
or high-end camera lenses.
Chromatic aberration is the failure of a lens to focus
all colours to the same point (the opposite to a
rainbow). It occurs because lenses have a different
refractive index for different wavelengths of light
(the dispersion of the lens). The refractive index
decreases with increasing wavelength. Chromatic
aberration is easy to test for in a scope, if you can
see ‘fringes’ of color along boundaries that separate
dark and bright parts of the image you have found
it. It occurs in other scopes because each color in
the optical spectrum cannot be focused at a single
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common point on the optical axis.
I pushed the March hard on this, both on a range
of targets and distances – fullbore and benchrest
and against a Zeiss lens test sheet in order to find
out when the blue and red wavelength got confused.
For all normal long-range shooting conditions and I
would hazard some less than normal, sighting was
very good to excellent and provided all the detail
needed but without any lens-induced distortion. The
glass used in this lens is really good and spoils you
for anything less precise.
This devotion to detail naturally adds costs to the
manufacturing process and one engineer at the
Deon factory can only assemble two scopes a day.
This is no high volume assembly line!
Testing and Retesting
As noted in previous reviews, during scope testing I
do try to push the boundaries of acceptable behavior
to see if the equipment does what it is supposed to
– and sometimes the results can be embarrassing
to the distributor. And Canberra is no friend to the
scope tester.
Target Shooter 41
The March 8 – 80 x 56 was used on two different
rifles - a 284 Improved and a 6.5 x 47 in F Class and
1000 yard benchrest matches.
Once the March was set up in the rings using the BRT
scope ring alignment tool, initial zeroing occurred at
400 metres. Shooting at 40 power was pleasant and
proved to be very similar to using my NXS. Moving
up to 80 power was more of a challenge for the
mind than the scope as the dot is small against the
large V bull of a fullbore target. A Canberra winter’s
afternoon can be a delight to see things and, like the
March 60X, the quality of the ED lens showed me
a mirage that ebbed and flowed against the black
ICFRA target and helped me pick the best aim-off
for the condition.
Picking the lull after the mirage dropped off was
easy and more practice would show that a tricky
mirage could be exploited using a combination of
the high-magnification and patience. At 80 power I
was able to see the bullet holes in the black when
the sun was bright on the target. As an example of
what 80 power means, the sight picture on a 400
metre ICFRA target at this magnification is similar to
a target located at 50 metres viewed at one power.
It is very easy to shoot at 80 power but it is important
to note that this shooting was done in Canberra
and Brisbane in the middle of winter and I have yet
to try this magnification in the heat of summer. I yard benchrest record of 2.067 inches in the Light
fully expect similar results to the 60 power version,
especially if the modifier disk is used.
The last 10 percent of magnification does have an
effect on the light transferred to the eye and summer
will have an impact on sighting. But the versatility
of the 8 – 80 power range means that there are
enough options to choose from in the 40 – 60 power
range - the fuzz and bother can be dialed out and
yet the scope is still working at a capability beyond
that of other brands.
Watching the mirage patterns over a period showed
a cycle of build-up and let-off emerging and I am
now watching and learning how to use this to my
advantage.
Moving the March to another rifle highlighted one
negative. Like the 10 – 60 model, eye relief is critical
but there is a cross-over point of six millimeters
between 8 and 80 power that, once set up, brings the
scope naturally to aim. As with everything, practice
is key to developing the correct muscle-memory
but the cross-over point contributes to develop a
consistent cheek-weld.
There is also plenty of eye-relief on all the
high-magnification models to use them on big
magnums. The 8 – 80x would sit happily on my
7mm BooBoo or 300 Win.Mag. with no chance of
drawing a ‘March eyebrow’ from excessive recoil.
42 Target Shooter
Shooting a small group
I travelled to Brisbane to compete with the 8 – 80x in
a 1000 yard benchrest match using a borrowed rifle
chambered in 6.5 x 47. I chose to run the March at
80X for the full match as the weather and conditions
made anything lower a waste. On the 1000 yard
benchrest target the scope could pick out the 3/4
inch patches as the day progressed and these could
be used as aiming-points.
I went to the match to concentrate on shooting
high scores and taking whatever groups came with
that. On my final target, the conditions changed to
something I had not seen before - a dead and dull
condition with a right to left trickle of wind. Holding
the 3/32nd dot on the blue line between the printed
numbers 7 and 6, I fired. The shot came up in the
nine just left of the 10 ring. I held the dot to the right
of the same line and fired again. The shot was in
the same place. I quickly banged down the final
three shots watching the flags flicker and adjusting
either side of the line but the group didn’t seem to
grow any bigger.
Feedback from the butts was very exuberant as they
measured the group and checked and rechecked its
size. It wasn’t until shooting had finished for the day
that I found out I had just shot a new Australian 1000
Gun class using a borrowed gun and the March 8 -
80 power scope!
The Last Word
March scopes are good, very good and well deserve
the reputation they are currently receiving. They are
expensive for a reason but, with the cost of a custom
rifle, it’s maybe worth adding one to your decision
list for the next build. I approached this review
with a jaundiced view of the hype surrounding the
March product-line but have come away again very
impressed with its value for shooting dollar.
The key message to take away from any March
review is the quality of the unit’s components – which
means that I can see things happening that other
shooters cannot see and therefore I could react
to condition-changes faster and more accurately.
When you are trying to shoot small groups at long
ranges with a pack of shooters hot on your heels
then every little thing that helps is a bonus.
For more information on March prices and the
current range please contact your regional
distributor: UK www.marchscopes.co.uk Australia/
NZ marchscopes.com.au USA www.kelbly.com
 Knowing your conditions
Helps to keep your aim true
Weather Meters

Easy to use

Accurate

Wind speeds

Cross Winds

Air Pressure

Humidity

Temperature

Dew Point

Wind Chill

Altitude

Time and Date

Graphical Display

Data Logging


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www.r-p-r.co.uk
Tel: 01590 679755
Target Shooter 43
 Special Report - UKBR22 World
Championship Air Rifle Benchrest Team
As I keep saying - sorry if this is repetitive - Air
Rifle Benchrest as a sport has grown since its
humble beginnings in 2005/ 2006, through the
then UKBR22 Chairman Pat Phelps working
with shooters in Italy. With just the odd few
shooters back then, I think only four at the first
UK nationals in 2006; this has grown into a
sport within the UK where there are near equal
numbers of air rifle and rimfire shooters.
Internationally the sport has grown steadily as
well, with thirteen countries now practicing it to
a greater or lesser degree. Certainly in places
like South Africa, Malta and Holland, to name
just a few, it is the predominant sport over rimfire
benchrest!!
In this article I would like to look at the world
championship coming up this year and the UK
air rifle benchrest team that will be representing
their country.
Left to Right - Graham, Me (your scribe) and Scott
44 Target Shooter
We have come a long way over the last half
decade, with most shooters originally starting
out with what they had in their cupboard or going
for specialist target air rifles seen mostly in
10m ISSF disciplines. This I must say was the
appropriate form as most, if not all, of the rimfire
benchrest rifles being used in the UK at the time
were converted target rifles, from makers such
as Walther, Anschutz or Fienwerkbau.
It stands to reason therefore that for the initial
stages of air rifle benchrest development; these
types of rifles were used. I am guessing with
the influx of HFT and FT shooters into this sport
was about the time where the rifles began to
vary considerably and we started to see other
specialist air rifles such as the Steyr, Arms Arms,
Theoben, and Daystate brands materialising!?
The cross fertilisation between shooting sports
has certainly benefitted air rifle benchrest
 up the sport as they have seen the
diversity in this sport. A win, win
situation all round!!

After approximately six years in

developing this sport, the only thing
that is lacking really is an off the
shelf benchrest air rifle that meets
the grade of design we aspire
too. (That will be a contentious
statement!! There are many out
there that would not agree with that
statement, but what works for the
Alan Grayson
goose (rimfire) works for the gander
(air rifle) in my book!!
Although we are a minority sport for
manufacturers in comparison to HFT
and FT, this is what I think a few are now
aspiring to, thus creating grass route
interest in the sport. Even basic
benchrest add-ons would be a
start!!!

Some manufacturers like Anschutz

and Steyr have tried, but based
their benchrest air rifle designs
on skeleton stock designs;
they just do not work as well as a
Garry Kingaby dedicated benchrest stock design!!
However one thing that has been
considered in two recent designs
development. Seeing this sport being attempted
I have seen is an extended air cylinder -
in the UK has spurred on many others and I do
considering weight at the same time - as
believe that the movement from target grade air
this provides extra shots during a match.
rifles to HFT/ FT rifles has seen the sport grow.
An Excellent innovation, which allows
I say grow in the development of using rifles,
extra sighters without the concern of
but this has also seen other countries taking
running out of air! (This is really needed I
can tell you, as this is the disadvantage of air
rifle benchrest - running out of charge so you
cannot shoot. Something we do not suffer from
in rimfire benchrest!!)

So back to the team!!In 2011 part of the UK team

will use Air Arms rifles as their rifle of choice,
thus we will be the Air Arms UKBR22 team!!!
There have been a number of developments
with these rifles, but more to be said in the
coming months.
This will obviously have a great impact on the
team, using the same rifles, developing them
in similar way and hopefully having our own
Garry Morrison Air Arms trained technical expert on the team.
Brilliant to have this level of support for what is

Target Shooter 45
 Scott Grayson
Alan Grayson
Gary Kingaby
Gary Morrison
Additions to the overall UKBR22 Air Rifle
Benchrest team are;
Andy Simpson
Jake Healey
Ron Harding
Carl Hanson
Andy Dubreuil
John Farrell

Out of the above team, most have seen

action at international level, with some
who have competed in at least four
international matches. Others like Scott
and Jake are still a young guys, still able to
Ron Harding make junior status, but capable of beating
the pants off most senior shooters. All are
medal winners in their own rights and have
contributed to teams both at national and
international level.
a very young sport.
Graham, Scott, Alan, Garry Kingaby, Carl
The members of Air Arms Air Rifle team for next
Hanson, Ron, Jake and myself represented the
year’s world championship are;
UK at the Europeans and World Cup in 2010.
Graham Freeman
We came away with a variety of team and
Carl Boswell
individual gold medals. Individual titles were
also achieved, with overall individual champion
for both the European and World Cup titles.

Jake Healey Carl Hanson

46 Target Shooter
 Andy and John predominately shoot
Andy Simpson rimfire benchrest, competing at
international level may times since 2007,
but will make up the reserve members of
the air rifle team, contributing mainly to
the rimfire section.

So this is our team! Young and old, with

a smattering of us that are, shall I say,
middle aged. Sorry guys!! However, we
have our sights set on greatness, forgive
the pun! So watch this space to see how
we perform during the summer of 2011.

I do know that air rifle benchrest has

taken the interest of some of the
specialist air rifle magazines that are
published. Good on them, as this can
Andy Dubreuil
only help develop the sport even further.
Some of our team, such as Scott, Alan
and Graham may well be writing articles
in these magazines in the future, while
I will keep doing my bit through Target
Shooter Magazine.

The team is looking for continued

sponsorship, both for the air rifle and
rimfire competitors on the team. As
ever in the UK we get no support in the
same way that other sports people do
(including our rival shooters in some
countries who do get everything paid
for them) and end up paying for things
out of our own pockets. All this while we
are representing our country abroad!
Sooooooo....... If there are any helpful
philanthropists out there reading this we
would certainly like to hear from you!!
Times are hard, but we would appreciate
any and all help!

One last thing, the UKBR22 team will

be represented at the Newark show in
February, so come and see us. We hope
to have a few items to raffle off that may
John Farrell
help support the team finances, or just
come to have a chat. We may even have
Gary Morrison has competed at national a rifle or two to view. We hope to see you
championships over the last few years and has there!!
been in medal winning teams. Andy Simpson
has also competed at national level, but also Until next month.
represented the UK at the world championship
in 2008.

Target Shooter 47
48 Target Shooter
 Special Report - Jake Healey in the
Press!! It had to happen!!

S harpshooter Jake aims for and said: “It feels great to go up to collect a
medal but there’s no jealousy from the adults.
world glory... “They are just happy for me because it shows
DEAD-EYE Jake Healey is one of the UK’s there are young people coming into the sport to
sharpest shooters – at the age of just 15. carry it on.”
Jake, of Mirfield, has amassed so many medals Dad Richard is the treasurer of the Paul Lane
he’s almost lost count. Rifle and Pistol Club in Mirfield and took his son
The teenager, who attends Castle Hall School, along when he was old enough to go on the
is an ace at benchrest rifle shooting, a sport he range at the age of 12.
took up just three years ago. Jake had a natural talent and Richard said: “I
He’s reached such a level he now regularly know I’m his dad and I’m biased but Jake is
outguns adults and next year he and dad really good.
Richard, 39, will jet off to the United States for “There are only two juniors in the country who
the World Championships. can compete on a national level and Jake is one
“I just love the sport,” said Jake. “I started going of them.”
along with my dad and just got into it.” Benchrest shooting involves shooting 25 times
Jake likes nothing better than beating the adults at a 2mm target from distances of 25m or 50m.

Jake in the Czech Republic last year - how many medals???

Target Shooter 49
Jake, pictured above, competed in the European
Championships and World Cup in the Czech
Republic this year coming home with two gold
medals, six silver and two bronzes.
He also proved himself best in the country at the
UK Nationals, competing against more than 80
shooters.
He won the overall gold as the top shooter as
well as the junior gold and team gold.
Jake’s next big test is the World Championships
in South Carolina in August.
Because of his age, Richard must accompany
him and the two-week trip is likely to cost up to
£5,000.
Jake’s trip to the Czech Republic was partially
sponsored by the Paul Lane club and private
individuals and Richard hopes more sponsors
come forward to help for next year.
Richard believes Jake hasn’t got the credit and
exposure he deserves because gun laws have
made shooting and guns a taboo sport.
There is no such thing as Jake turning
professional, so much of the cost falls on the
family. Jake’s competition gun has cost £4,000
to put together.
“It’s expensive as a sport and the paperwork
you wouldn’t believe,” said Richard. “Can you
imagine having to take a gun in and out of the
country?
“Goodness knows what it will be like going to
America.”
Jake practises every Saturday at the Paul
Lane club and was allowed out of school on
Wednesday afternoons in the run-up to the
Czech championships.
Benchrest shooting isn’t yet an Olympic sport
but it is growing in popularity and Jake could go
to the very top.
The whole family are in on the act with proud
mum Helen, 46, brother Scott, 13, and granddad
Stephen Middleton following every shot, with
Helen publishing a blow-by-blow account of
major championships on Facebook. To sponsor
Jake please contact Richard via secretary@
paullanerandp club.co.uk.

Article supplied courtesy of The Press

Newspaper - http://www.thepressnews.co.uk/

50 Target Shooter
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Target Shooter 51
 Building the Ultimate F/TR Rifle

by Vince Bottomley
Above - All stole actions are named after bears – Grizzly, Kodiak, Polar etc. and this is the
Panda action - massively strong with an enormous flat bedding area. The integral recoil-
lug is only used on the F Class action. Note the built-in Davidson scope-rail with 20 degree
taper
Ultimate? Well of course, that’s down to I know that my Censhot bi-pod (reviewed
individual opinion – my definition of ultimate elsewhere in this issue) weighs 19 ounces
might not agree with yours. In fact, it almost and we can add around a pound for the ‘bits &
certainly won’t but at least if you are embarking pieces’. I would dearly love to use a Nightforce
on an F/TR project of your own, I may give you scope (weighing two pounds) but my old Leupold
some food for thought. 36X benchrest scope has served me well and
I have built other F and F/TR rifles but usually weighs a tad under one pound. So, all the bits
with some constraint – i.e. the shooter has & pieces plus the Leupold comes to about 3lb.
specified the action – or the stock maybe. This 4oz. We therefore have just 6lbs 14oz. left for
time it’s all down to me – my rifle – my ideas the stock and action. Make that 6lb. 8oz. if we
based on shooting with the GBFCA League over are going to lacquer the stock and fit a butt-pad!
the last couple of seasons.
As with any competitive F Class rifle, we are Now, I love my BATs – in my opinion, there is
looking to install a long, heavy-profile barrel. In no finer action but, at 3lbs. it’s a luxury I can’t
my case, it will be at least 30 inches long and a afford with this build, so here’s my cunning plan
straight taper from 1.25 inches at the breech to an – a Stolle, see www.kelbly.com The legendary
inch at the muzzle. The F/TR Class is restricted all-aluminium Stolle benchrest action has been
to the 308 or 223 cartridge and, although I’m adapted for F Class by adding a recoil-lug and
impressed by Laurie Holland’s success with his comes with a built-in scope-rail incorporating a
223, I will be sticking with the 308. Such a barrel 20MOA taper – best of all, it tips the scales at a
will weigh close to eight pounds and, with the scant 2lbs.! That means I have another pound
all-up weigh of an F/TR rifle restricted to 18lbs. for the stock – 4lb 8oz!
2oz. that leaves just 10lbs for everything else.
Everything else must include: Incidentally, if you are not over-familiar with
Action the Stolle action and you are worried about
Stock aluminium as opposed to steel – let me reassure
Scope you that the important bits – tenon-thread,
Bi-pod bolt-lugs, plus where the bolt-handle cams – are
Bits & pieces - like rings, trigger, scope-rail, steel inserts.
screws, trigger-guard.

52 Target Shooter
Above and Below - Steel inserts are used for the barrel-tenon & bolt-lugs and the camming-
point for the bolt on the rear of the action

Target Shooter 53
The stock? In my opinion, the most important Over the last few months, I’ve been looking at
bit in some respects. Most actions and barrels stocks on the internet and the longest one I
will deliver superb accuracy – if they are put could find is made by Precision Rifle & Tool in
together properly by a competent gunsmith America – check out at www.precisonriflesales.
but, the stock design is critical in delivering com . The total length is a tad over 38 inches
that accuracy to the target. Our stock can be without butt-pad. If this doesn’t mean a lot, go
very simple – forget all those fiddly adjustable and measure your own rifle’s stock and you’ll
bits and bobs, they are not needed on a rested see what I mean. By co-incidence, it’s the same
rifle - ever see a benchgun with an adjustable stock used by European and GBFCA League
cheek-piece or butt-plate? No! Champion, Grant Taylor – though he is of course
shooting in the F Class Open category where
The only requirement is that the stock securely rifles can have an all-up weight of 22lbs.
holds the barrelled-action, recoils properly on the
front bi-pod and rear bag and, most important, My stock came via Pete Walker at Walker
it must not flex. One well-known fibre-glass Custom Rifles www.walkerrifles.co.uk – the UK
F-Class stock is getting something of a importer and only took a month or so to arrive. It
reputation for flexing. It’s a great design with a is an un-inletted blank so the first job is to bung
torque-reducing, low-profile fore-end but, with a it on the kitchen scales and see how much of
heavy barrelled-action on-board, it does seem a problem we have. Stocks can of course be
to be a bit springy. I was quite surprised when ordered pre-inletted for most popular actions but
I fired one and watched the crosshairs vibrate! it’s sometimes easier to start from scratch.
I’m therefore looking for a wood-laminate stock
- they tend to be stiffer and wood is known to Wow, it weighs 6lbs. – we have a pretty big
be better at dampening vibrations than synthetic problem! I need to shed at least 1lb. 8oz. – or
materials. a quarter of its weight! Next month we will find
out if we can get our stock down to weight and
The more distance we can get between the front maybe even screw a barrel into the new Stolle
bi-pod and rear-bag the better so, we want a action. I also have an idea for a super-light
stock with as long a fore-end as possible, with bi-pod and an adjustable cheek-piece - with a
our bi-pod set as far forward as possible. Every difference.
inch of barrel which is forward of the bi-pod has
the effect of trying to lift the butt off the rear bag.
We want as much down-force (i.e. weight) as
possible on that rear bag - if our rifle is to recoil
properly - without a tendency to lift the butt.

Below - Here’s the Precision Rifles stock blank – not mine but an identical one – except for
the colour

54 Target Shooter
 Tel/Fax 01722782432
Email; ags.westlake@virgin.net/ Website; www.westlakeengineering.com

The Taurus ML Revolver is converted from a Taurus .357 Magnum Long Barrelled Revolver.
The cylinder is removed and a Yoke extension fitted, this contains the spring loaded
plunger that frees the action when the yoke is closed. As this extension cannot be removed,
it prevents the re-fitting of the original cylinder. The Barrel is shortened to approximately 5
¼ inches and the wristbrace is removed.
A new cylinder is made which has pockets for shotgun primers at the rear with a small
flash hole through into the chamber at the front. The chamber is made to accept .357” lead
wadcutter bullets. The conversion of your pistol costs £330.00. Extra Cylinders are £180.00
each. If you do not have a pistol I can order a new pistol from the Importers.

Portsmouth Gun Centre Ltd

295 London Road
North End
Portsmouth
PO2 9HF
Opening Times Tel 02392 660574
Mon 9.30 - 5.30 Fax 02392 644666
Tues Closed
Wed Closed E-mail sales@portsmouthguncentre.com
Thur 9.30 - 5.30 Website www.portsmouthguncentre.com
Fri 9.30 - 5.30
Sat 9.30 - 5.30
We stock a full range of Rifles, Pistols, Air Guns, Shotguns, Ammunition,
Reloading Equipment and Accessories. All major brands stocked including BSA,
CZ, Air Arms, Marlin, Ruger, Umarex, Uberti, Cometa, Pedersoli, Berreta, Lincoln,
Webley, Pedersoli, etc.

Target Shooter 55
Welsh Open 2010
I was really disappointed last year to miss my
annual trip to the Welsh Open due to my foot
being in plaster, so really looked forward to
shooting there this year. That said though I did
manage to injure my pistol shooting shoulder
and arm quite badly the week preceding the
shoot.
Once again this years’ Welsh Airgun Open was
held over the weekend of 29th – 31st October in
the Main Hall at the Welsh Institute of Sport in
Cardiff and capably organised by Karen Morris
and her team of volunteer helpers.
For the second year, with three weeks to go,
the Open was fully booked, with some people
unable to get an entry, and a number of people
disappointed at not being able to shoot more
than once whilst at the event. During the run
up to the Open there was a squadding page
accessible online that was updated with squad
vacancies which gave an instant indication
of whether your preferred time to shoot was
available and this will be used for all future
Welsh competitions.
56 Target Shooter
by Hayley Platts
There was also a Facebook page set up and
people were kept up to date with the latest
information. If anyone would like to be part of
next years’ Facebook page, they can join the
WAA Group & they’ll be automatically added.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/
group.php?gid=164927178614
Karen informs me that the overall entries were
similar to last year, but people came from further
afield. This year, the Welsh Association was
delighted to receive entries from Malta and
Norway.
Last year an extra squad was created for 5pm
on the Friday. This proved so popular that it
was done again this year. Following its success
(and over-subscription), Karen predicts it will
probably be a permanent squad for all future
Welsh events.
There were four sets of Finals, Senior and
Junior in both rifle and pistol.
Megalink electronic targets were used again
for the Olympic Finals. Finals prizes were
presented to the competitors by Mick Gault,
OBE. Final and won outright. James, and several
shooters fresh back from the Commonwealth
Another change this year was having the Games were keen to be doing well at this
prize-giving immediately after the Finals. Prizes prestigious event.
were awarded by Commonwealth Games gold
medallist David Phelps. There were a variety of trade stands and the
usual professionals were on-hand to offer
Full results may be downloaded from the advice and technical help where necessary.
Competition Results page of the Welsh Airgun
Association website including graphical score Summary of scores
cards from the Olympic Finals.
Welsh Open Pistol Champion 2010 is Nick
Another addition to this year’s event was a Baxter with a score of 581.
screen showing the competitors results as they Welsh Open Rifle Champion 2010 is James
were being entered into the computer. This Huckle with a score of 590.
enabled them to see their scores much sooner. Welsh Open Junior Pistol Champion 2010 is
Due to the positive feedback, this is something Kirsty Liddon with a score of 559.
that will be improved and used again next year. Welsh Open Junior Rifle Champion 2010 is
Sheree Cox with a score of 591.
There were some amazing scores – Nick Welsh Open Ladies Pistol Champion 2010 is
Baxter shot a fine 581 in air pistol and several Aina Flørli with a score of 378 .
junior rifle shooters outshot some of their seniors Welsh Open Ladies Rifle Champion 2010 is
contemporaries. One of them, the in-form Sheree Cox with a score of 393.
James Huckle, elected to shoot in the Senior

Saturday morning

Target Shooter 57
 Finals

Welsh Closed Pistol Champion 2010 is Coral
Kennerley with a score of 557.
Welsh Closed Rifle Champion 2010 is Michael
Bamsey with a score of 586.
Michaels’ score is a new Welsh Record Score
for the 10m Air Rifle Junior Mens Event.
Sadly, during the weekend of the Welsh Open,
Irene Daw passed away.
She was a rifle coach for the WAA for many
years, and she will be missed by the many
people she mentored and coached over the
years.
saw their own Vic Jagiello achieve this for the
first time and several made a day of it with him
to show their support and visit the NSRA shop at
Bisley at the same time.
The main results are as follows and
congratulations to all the finalists this year.
Three Positions Rifle
Class A
577 - Miss M Smith, Havant
Class B
563 - M T Girling, Southampton University

The date for next years’ Welsh Open has just Prone Rifle
been confirmed as 14th-16th October 2011, Class A
a little earlier than in 2010 so make sure you 391 - Miss M Smith, Havant
ensure your diary is clear to enjoy a weekend of Class B
shooting in Wales next autumn. 382 - R G Spence, Orkney
Class C
NSRA/ELEY FINALS 381 - I Ellis, Kingsgate
Class D
I’ve always participated in this postal competition 377 - E Hilder, Wendover
which culminates in a national final for the cream Class E
of the crop following two qualifying rounds. It’s 379 - M Carlin, Vauxhall Motors
always a source of interest for club members all Class F
eager to see how many of them can get through 382 - S Rumsey, Ex Waterlow
the first round and then if a place in the final can
be achieved. This year my Lichfield TSC friends Benchrest

58 Target Shooter
Class A 545 - A King, Surbiton Postal
400 - J Malone, Clachnacuddin Class C
Class B 473 - J Robbins, Petworth
396 - K Keeble, Staveley
Cartridge Pistol
Class C Class A
396 - J Taylor, Reepham 534 - S Nangle, Blackburn
Class B
20 Yard Air Pistol 484 - R Matthews, Ross on Wye
A Class
381 -A J Graver, Norwich City Air Rifle 10 metre
Class B Class A
359 - M Reed, Shanklin 595 - Miss N Porrill, Centurion
Class C Class B
341 - S Bates, Pinhoe 567 - Miss C Whitaker, Keelby
Class C
Lightweight Sport Rifle (Precision) 552 - Ms A Newbery
Class A Class D
400 - B Rawlings, CSSA 561 - Miss H P Lay, RBL Abingdon
Class B Air Pistol 10 metre
378 - M Rickard, Yealmpton & District Class A
Class C 568 - S Nangle, Blackburn
378 - M Hill, Roding Class B
Class D 541 - M Reed, Shanklin
366 - J Taylor, Reepham Class C
549 - A Carter
Lightweight Sport Rifle (Timed) Class D
Class A 530 - M Bagot, Havant
524 - K Maskery, Cobham & District Class E
Class B 507 - C Harris

Eirik & Bob

Target Shooter 59
ELEY Partners Champions
for Commonwealth Gold
100% of .22 Gold Medals in XIX Commonwealth
Games won with ELEY Ammunition

(left to right) Neil Stirton, Jennifer McIntosh, Jonathon Hammond

Champions shoot Tenex

60
www.eleyammunition.com
Target Shooter
 Olympic & ISSF Shooting - A Discussion
Sadly, owing to that stupid pistol ban, our
involvement in ISSF and Olympic shooting is
much diminished, leaving just the smallbore rifle
and clays events to be seriously contested by
GB shooters. However, for those of you who
maintain an interest in such events – and this
magazine will always strive to do so – we bring
you news of a ‘rift’ which is developing between
those who compete and those who organise
these events.
I must confess that my knowledge of the Olympic
disciplines is somewhat lacking and the best I
can do is to refer you to the various letters and
discussion forums which are currently active via
the internet. This ‘open’ letter is for the attention
of all ISSF shooters from the ESC president,
Vladimir Lisin:
Dear friends of the shooting sport!
During the last year many different
events  happenеd in our lives. And I think now
it is right time to discuss openly the problems
of the shooting community. Changing rules
of Olympic discipline in the middle of Olympic
cycle reflects the trends within the ISSF, which
makes decisions behind closed doors.
I have addressed ISSF leaders regarding these
changes but have not received the answer. Now
I want  to appeal to all shooting community. All
Federations already received the circular letter
from ISSF. 
 
I would like to introduce a different point of view
and ask you to express your opinion. Please
find my letter as the President of ESC to the
President of ISSF.
On the ESC Official web-site you could see the
full version  of  correspondence  regarding the
changes of ISSF Rules.
I am confident that the real changes must touch
not only technical aspects of shooting but also
the internal relations inside ISSF.
And I hope that it will  be the subject of open
debates and will give the impulse of improvement
to the Federation and our sport.
My address for your comments is: president@
escsports.eu
And you could leave or share them at the ESC
Target Shooter 61
“Rule changes Forum”: principles on which we should build our
http://www.esc-shooting.org/index.php/ relationship. Before sending a letter to member
urgent-letter-from-the-president federations I have addressed  you personally,
Mr. President but you made no suggestions or
Another ‘open’ letter, this time to the ISSF proposals in response to my appeal.
President from the ESC President:
We are deeply confident that the opinion of
Mr To: Mr. ISSF President
athletes and coaches should be heard and
Cc: All ISSF Member Federations
considered.
Since I received the circular letter regarding We strongly believe that the leaders of the
changes of the rules, accepted by the Federation should serve the interest of the
Administrative Council,  I would like to mention community.
that the basis of our position remains the We are sure that the open exchange of
promotion of shooting sports as a spectator opinions between member federations should
sport. The European Confederation has always be profitable for the sport and we do believe
in the necessity of constructive dialog with all
insisted on the necessity of changes. 
organizations and people who are interested in
I would like to draw your attention to some details its development.
of your letter which caused confusion.
The right to have an opinion is undeniable
You insist that the proposed changes received
in a democratic society and we insist on its
a positive response during their presentation at
realization!
the World Cup Final in Munich. This statement
is not correct. The reaction of the audience and
And we regret if you don’t share these ideas. We
participants of the Rapid Fire final was negative.
regret, but we won’t accept it!
At the meeting of shooters and coaches (after
the final) many critical views were stated in
With due respect,
the presence of the Executive Director Mr.
W. Schreiber and the Technical Delegate
ISSF Administrative Council Member
Vice-President Mr. G. Anderson. Almost nobody
ESC President
supported the innovation. This fact was reported
Vladimir Lisin
to you personally, Mr. President, in my letter on
November the 3rd.
In addition to the many technical suggestions all The area of disagreement appears in some part
the participants agreed that is not reasonable to to involve rescheduling and timing for various
change the rules in the middle of the Olympic events to fit in with television’s requirements.
cycle. Probably it is time to make relevant Certainly, we have all witnessed this in other
changes in the ISSF Statutes. sports e.g. Formula One & Moto GP races
being run in the dark to fit in with European TV
Surely the Administrative Council of ISSF has schedules but presumably with the full consent
the right to approve changes without taking of the participants.
into consideration the opinion of the shooting A further ‘handle’ on the situation may be gleaned
community. But is it worth it to use this right and from the ESC website:
be proud of that?  We have already lost a few http://www.esc-shooting.org/index.php/
great Olympic disciplines! urgent-letter-from-the-president and from
Why did you keep preparations of such important two PDF documents – Final Change 2011
changes in secret? If you do care at all about the formatted, Rule Changes Summary 9 Nov 2010
future of our sport it would be better to consider Target Shooter was approached by Mr Lisin who
the opinion of the best shooters and coaches! asked us to print his letter in the magazine and in
It is not clear at all why it surprises you when the interests of target shooting, we are pleased
the President of one of the Continental to do so. However, we remain impartial and we
Confederations and ISSF Administrative would be more than happy to hear – and publish
Council member addresses other ISSF member - the other side of the case if anyone from the
Federations? ISSF cares to contact us. Alternatively, if any
ISSF shooter would like to express an opinion
Such communication fully satisfies both - the and set out clearly the issues, we are receptive.
Statutes of the Federation and democratic

62 Target Shooter
 Target Shooter 63
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 By Gwyn Roberts
Following on from last month then, the final
thing I needed to look at was improving the
trigger unit/action of my little 10/22 and this what
I ended up doing. Starting with the trigger unit
I stripped out all of the internals leaving only
the safety plunger in place due to the fact that
a) it works as it is, and b) it doesn’t need to be
extended as it will very rarely be used anyway,
so why bother. I’m not sure if the ragged edges
on the top front edge of the new polymer housing
is due to the machining process at the factory,
66 Target Shooter
or whether it’s been caused by the bolt riding
over the top of it whilst I’ve been shooting the
rifle, but a craft knife soon got rid of them and
tidied things up. I chamfered the edges of the
magazine channel with a small needle file, and
then used a countersink cutter to put a small lead
into the plunger recess. Some fine emery cloth
was then used to tidy up a small narrow band
which looked like a casting mark just inside the
front ledge of the recess.
Being one of the many “pressed” parts
used in firearms nowadays, most of
the edges along the right hand side
of the ejector again required the
attention of some emery cloth as did
the bolt lock, which I also modified at
the same time into what is generally
known as an ABR (automatic bolt
release). This saved me around
£10-12 in the process and all I had
to do was simply file down the small
spike in the heart shaped hole, until I
ended up with a small domed shape
instead. I made sure that all of the
edges were cleaned up afterwards as
a nice smooth finish will make sure
that nothing binds against it once it’s
put back into the housing. Filing this
area until the spike is just flat inside
the hole will sometimes work, but
taking out the extra material should
ensure that you end up with an ABR
that functions 100% reliably the first
time around. This modification will
allow you to release the bolt forwards
by simply pulling back on the cocking
handle slightly and then releasing it,
rather than having to first of all find,
and then fiddle around with an uncooperative (£15 to normal folk) which drops the magazine
little lever somewhere underneath the trigger when pushed forwards, and locks the bolt open
housing. To compliment this I also installed one when it is pulled backwards in conjunction with
of my own extended magazine release levers the bolt handle. This results in a very quick “drop

Target Shooter 67
 kits a try although I must admit
I was somewhat slightly dubious
of its worth, having tried quite
a few “drop in” bits over the
years in other peoples rifles, but
nothing ventured nothing gained
as they say! The kit includes a
replacement trigger plunger
spring, hammer spring, two
hammer shims, and of course a
match hammer. Comparing the
two hammers side by side you
can instantly see the difference
between both the depth of the
hammer notch, and the angle
of the near flat leading into
it. To see what bits did what, I
decided to take the average of
5 consecutive results using a
Lyman electronic gauge with
each of the new components
installed, and to start with the
release weight of the standard
trigger averaged 6lb 1 oz. By

and lock” action of around 2 seconds

which comes into its own when shooting
matches such as the 1500 etc.

Moving on to the part that I dread using

the most (purely because I’ve used either
a Jewell or KID one for the last 14yrs)
which is the dreaded 6lb trigger unit!
Although I’ve re-cut some standard 10/22
triggers with some success when we first
started shooting GR (as well as some
failures too I must admit) the time it takes
to get everything just right, combined with
the dismal temperature gauge reading
displayed in my workshop, it just didn’t
appeal to me to do it myself again this
time to be honest. After speaking to an
enthusiastic Edward at Viking Arms to see
what they had to offer I decided to give
one of his Volquartsen target hammer

68 Target Shooter
 simply replacing it with the Volquartsen
hammer it instantly produced an average of
2lb 9.4oz which I think is pretty remarkable
really, and this dropped again slightly to 2lb
5.9oz when I replaced the hammer spring
with the VQ one. I wasn’t sure if the sloppy
fit between the sear and the disconnector
had any effect on the trigger weight so I
drilled and tapped the back of the sear and
fitted a 4mm grub screw along with some
Loctite thread locker. Rather than spend
the next 3 days dismantling, adjusting and
then putting the whole lot back together
again until I found the right setting between
the screw and the disconnector, I simply
drilled straight through the trigger blade
which then allowed me to adjust the take
up on the fly once it was all back together
again. The final average weight once the
VQ plunger spring and my modified sear
were fitted was a very pleasing 1lb 15.3oz,
with no noticeable take up and a really crisp
let off which I think is excellent for a £45-50
replacement kit along with a bit of effort!
The final thing for me to do on the trigger
unit was to round off the edges on the
hammer strut and trigger plunger, and then
polish them up to help reduce any drag or
friction. When I’ve got a bit of spare time
I’ll also lightly stone and polish up all of the
mating surfaces inside the unit to see if any
more improvements can be made, but for
now I’m more than happy with the result!

Moving on to the bolt assembly and the first

thing I checked was the fit between the extractor
and the rim of a cartridge and as expected,
there was quite a gap between the two points
and having no contact between them obviously
means that the extractor will not be able to do
its job properly. One thing that really bugs me is
that some people will tell you to buy the latest
super duper extractor that’s been made out of

Target Shooter 69

pure kryptonite by some magic machine on the
moon, instead of saying just try a few on the
spot and buy whichever fits properly. Rather
than spend £12-15 on of these items I simply
70 Target Shooter
modified my Ruger one by heating it up and
tapping the hook over a small amount each
time between checking it for proper fitment.
Once this was achieved I then filed the
hook until a good fit was achieved and then
re-shaped the head slightly. Once the sides
had been stoned flat and the edges had been
tidied up, the extractor was then heat treated
to put the hardness back into the now “soft”
metal. It’s very important to re-harden any
parts if you break through their outer layer
and it doesn’t really matter which method you
use as long as it’s done properly. A simple test
is to run a file over it to see whether it bites in
or not and if doesn’t, you should be ok.
Next up was the firing pin which I stoned
along each side (I didn’t touch either end
though) and around the edges. I also smoothed
out the inside of the channel that the firing pin
slides along which won’t do any harm on the
ignition side of things. Chamfering the back of
the bolt was my next job as this takes out a lot
of the jolt when the bolt contacts the hammer
during the cycling action. I did this using the
side of a fine grinding wheel which helps give a
very uniformed finish and this was followed by
various grades of wet and dry paper placed on
top of a flat plate. The back end was then heat
treated and tested for hardness again so that
the hammer wouldn’t just wear a big groove into
it before giving it a final polishing. Putting some
permanent marker on the chamfer area and then
racking the action several times when the rifle
was re-assembled confirmed that everything
was square in relation to the hammer as a wide,
uniformed mark could be seen where the two
parts made contact with each other. Another
modification to help maintain consistent ignition
and grouping is to pin the firing pin down so that
it doesn’t jump upwards on its way to striking
 Should be able to shoot it properly now

the base of the cartridge, but I will do this when

I have a bit more time on my hands. I will also
get the bolt head spaced properly but that’s not
a job I will be doing myself as it needs to be set
up properly in a surface grinding machine, using
some very accurate gauges in the process.

The last part to look at was the bolt handle and

again just to keep the cost down I have stayed
with the original one as it serves its purpose.
I have to say that removing the spring is a bit

Target Shooter 71

of a pain as the handle is held onto the rod by
crudely bending/staking the end of the rod. Once
it was removed though I sanded down and then
polished the rod before doing the same to the
inside of the cocking handle, as this will help to
72 Target Shooter
stop it binding up during the cycling action.
For the doubters and other forum “experts” out
there that insist you have to have £1000+ match
rifle to shoot well with, I shot this rifle two weeks
ago complete with the standard 6lb trigger in the
Welsh GR Championships and won 2 out of the
3 rimfire matches with it. A 600 ex 600 in the
(modified indoor) Match 5 1500, a 300 20x in
the Timed & Precision 1 match and a 117 in the
Multi Target match wasn’t too shabby I thought
considering the extremely cold conditions we
had to shoot in on the day.
I think it’s fair to say that with a bit of effort you
can put something together for as little as £300-
350 which is capable of producing top 3 scores
in most of the GR matches that we shoot in, if
you play your part that is and I hope that this little
project has proved the point to anyone thinking
of joining us that you don’t have to go out and
spend an absolute fortune just to get started or
compete at a reasonable level within the sport
of Gallery Rifle! There may of course come a
time when you will need to upgrade to a better
quality barrel that will group both tighter and
more consistently at 50m. Or maybe upgrade
to a better trigger unit to help you squeeze out
those last few extra points in a 1500 or Precision
match, but until then, I’d spend your money on
ammo to practice with and get yourself along to
a few competitions where you will learn a whole
lot more to help you on your way!
 Target Shooter 73
 Club of the Month
The Old Sergeants Mess Shooting
Club, Bisley
A lot of people who drive onto Bisley Camp
may not have noticed the first clubhouse on
the right, just inside the front gate. Even fewer
have ventured inside the club to discover
what they have been missing out on.
The Old Sergeants Mess Shooting Club was set
up to encourage diversity in members shooting
disciplines. It is particularly well known for
McQueen. Nowadays the club has a growing
sporting side but has also branched out to
encompass most shooting disciplines. The
74 Target Shooter
thriving membership have helped to build one
of the fastest growing clubs on camp. With its
roaring log fire and comfy sofas, combined with
friendly welcome and good food, this is an ideal
way to round off a shooting day – especially in
the colder months. Jo Scrimshaw, who runs the
club ably assisted by the club committee, also
has a therapy clinic on site to ease the aches
and pains of modern living. A variety of therapies
from Indian head massage and polarity through
to reflexology and sports massage are available
to both members and non-members alike. was followed by the Christmas raffle then it was
The club also runs regular trips abroad to ranges all into the dining room for Christmas dinner,
in Germany where members can discover, turkey and venison with all the trimmings.
or re-discover, the joys of hand gun shooting Jo and the committee – including your scribe
or have a go with a machine gun, all carefully – would like to thank everyone who helped
monitored by members of the hosting club. to make the day a great success. Our next
The OSM has put on shoots 3 weekends out of event is a fundraising day in February which
4 over the course of the year culminating in the will be a combination shoot/auction/fun day.
Christmas turkey shoot on the 12th December. For more information about the club contact
The day started with bacon butties in the Jo Scrimshaw on 01483 799998, email osm-
clubhouse and a comprehensive range brief. shootingclub@btconnect.com or logon to
As usual a variety of disciplines tested the our website, www.osmshootingclub.org.uk.
members skills.
Bianchi speed steels,
shotgun and a stalkers
test comprising prone,
sitting, kneeling,
standing free and
standing with sticks,
were all on offer in
the morning. Coffee
and mince pies were
delivered to the range
to ward off the chills.
Lunch was followed
by McQueen castle
at 300yds, always a
firm favourite with the
members. Prize giving
Target Shooter 75
I write this piece whilst having a very pretty view
of snowy Bisley from my office window. Very pretty
right up to the point where you open the door and
discover how cold it is and people are still shooting
– madness...
The NRA individual members renewals have all
gone out now, either by email or post. So, if you are
a member, please check what you need to do to
renew online or contact us to pay over the phone on
01483 797777 x138/155. If you still need to renew
your certification card then you can contact Sarah
Wells on memadmin@nra.org.uk or ext 162.
Father Christmas seems to have lost a reindeer this
year, at least one turned up in our office. Apparently
Carol was asked to stuff the suit and decided that
she was the right size. Now we know what happens
to all those glasses of sherry!
The NRASC Christmas shoot was on the 11th
Santa’s missing reindeer
76 Target Shooter
December and was very well attended. We took
over both Cheylesmore range and the room behind
it. My theory was that it would be warmer in the
room and I could stay in there doing tea, coffee,
mulled wine and mince pies. Well, I was partly right.
I did stay in there as it was so busy but the warm bit
was definitely a mistake. Cold concrete is a killer on
the feet after a while. However everyone seemed
to have a good time and there was some serious
competition going on. We had both standard round
targets and clay targets, which have proved very
popular whilst not costing the earth. Once the
morning shoot was over we headed up to the Old
Sergeants Mess SC for Christmas dinner and prize
giving. Thankfully the fire had been lit and we could
do the traditional backs to the fire, warming up bit.
My thanks go to Charles Perry, who runs the club
for me and does it very well, Simon Jarman, Steve
Sims, Myles Robertson and my own Chris Webb
who did a magnificent job manning the firing lines.
Our website has an online calendar for shooting
events all over the country. So if you would like
your event in it just email Karen@nra.org.uk
and she will be delighted to add it. Have a look
at what is already up to see what the format is
like.
Firearms Commons Debate by Glynn Alger,
Secretary General
As you are probably aware a Commons debate
on Firearms issues related to the tragedies in
Cumbria and Northumberland took place on
Monday 20th December 2010.
During the course of the debate three key
issues emerged that seemed to gain general
approval from the Government side as matters
to look at:
a. Young people - a unified or simplified age for
possession and/or use - In relation to Young
people the NRA view is that there should be
no set age for when children are allowed to
shoot under supervision and if it is thought
necessary to introduce an age related
requirement it should be ten (the minimum
age for criminal responsibility) for issue of a

Shotgun/Firearms Certificate.
b. Increased police/GP liaison over certificates -
The NRA have expressed concern as to how
firearms users details will be safeguarded on
the current NHS IT system, when considering
the number of staff that would have access
to such information. In addition we had
concerns as to how the
requirement was going to
work operationally. ACPO
and the Home Office are
currently considering
another less bureaucratic
option.
c. Having one certificate
for S1 & 2 firearms –
The current proposal will
make life less onerous
for those individuals who
need to renew firearms
and shotgun certificates.
However, those who purely
hold a shotgun certificate
will potentially find that they have to meet
additional requirements, similar to those
for firearms certificate holders in terms of
referees and ‘good reason’. The NRA has
stated that it does not support the effective
reclassification of shotguns as Section
1 because of the potential for increased
administration placed upon the Police and
the consequential delays dealing with new
applications or renewals.
d. Increased FAC Charges – Linked to the
previous point the NRA are of the opinion that
the Government should look at the possibility
of removing responsibility for Firearms
Licensing from the Police by centralising
it. In this way shooters would experience a
more consistent approach and potential for
a better more efficient service at a reduced
cost.
To read either the full Hansard report on the
debate or the executive summary of the debate
from David Penn the Secretary of BSSC please
go to the NRA Website.
Finally the NRA wishes to assure you that it
will endeavour to continue to represent your
views and keep you fully informed as issues
progress. It would be wrong at this stage
to get complacent and ‘take our eye off the
bull’.
The staff of the NRA would like to wish you all a
Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Heather Webb
Membership Secretary
Target Shooter 77
 From The Bench
VINCE’S REGULAR COLUMN
WHEREBY ACCURACY NUTS
CAN KEEP UP TO DATE WITH
THE ACTIVITIES OF THE UKBRA

Competitions
Normally, at this time of the year, most of our
benchrest rifles are hibernating for the winter
and January’s column is struggling for content
but this year we had a 600 yard BR shoot on
Boxing Day. This was down to an unavoidable
re-shuffle of the calendar and I did wonder who
would be able to come up with a good enough
excuse to abandon family commitments!
Well, a good number of you did! A fine effort and
a good opportunity to cast aside the excesses
of Christmas and get back to the serious stuff
again. With Diggle still covered in a blanket of
snow, Christmas card views were guaranteed
and added to the occasion.
her 2.4 inch group also was the smallest of the
day. Guys – what are we going to do?
Results: Light Gun
1st Steve Barrett 6mm Grunig 3.165 in
(av. of four 5-shot groups)
2nd Toni Young 308 Remington 3.255 in.
3rd Jack Gibb6mmBR Stolle 4.228 in.
Small group: Toni Young 2.46 inches
Factory Sporter:
1st Toni Youngn 308 Remington 3.255 in
2
nd
Phil Gibbon 6.5-284 Savage 5.166 in.
3rd James Weatherhead 308 Styer 13.75 in.

Once again, Toni Young gave all the lads a good Small group: Toni Young 2.46 inches
stuffing and not only won Factory Sporter with her
bog-standard 308 Remmy - with a performance New stuff
good enough for second place in Light Gun but Trouble with benchrest, you just can’t go to your

78 Target Shooter
local dealer and buy a competitive benchrest market for it.
rifle – you have to have one built to order to
have any hope of winning. The 6.5-284 factory On the other hand, Superformance almost
Savages are as near as you can get to an certainly will be worth a look. Although Hodgdon
out-of-the-box benchrest rifle and have list a wide variety of applications from 22-250 to
dominated the long-range ‘Factory’ benchrest the 300WSM, I suspect it might find a following
class and have even turned-in respectable with cartridges in the 223 – 6mm range. Maybe
Light Gun performances on occasion. Now Laurie Holland will do some testing for us.
Savage have introduced a benchrest rifle with a
twin-port action chambered for the 6BR
cartridge. I’ve just seen the first one at Osprey
Rifles www.ospreyrifles.com and I predict it
will be a winner in either Factory or Light Varmint
class. For the money – it’s unbeatable!

New Powders
Edgar Brothers of Macclesfield have just
announced two new Hodgdon rifle powders.
The first one is called Leverevolution and, as
the name implies, is aimed at the lever-action
shooter though I suspect more at the hunter than
the target lever-action shooter. Hunting is very
popular with the lever-action rifle in America but
not so over here. I’m not sure there will be a big

Target Shooter 79
 The Long View
News from the GB
F-Class Association
by Les Holgate

Unfortunately, the GBFCA – in line with most
shooting organisations - is rather inactive at
this time of the year but we do of course have
our Bisley-based F Class Training Weekend
on February 19/20th to look forward to. If you
haven’t booked a place already, get in touch
with Mik Maksimovic mik@mikdolphin.
demon.co.uk as soon as possible – places
are filling up quickly.
Calling all 6mm shooters
In F Class Open, most shooters have switched
to 7mm cartridges with other calibres becoming
more and more scarce and of course, F/TR is
restricted to 308 or 223. So it was inevitable
that someone would come up with another
shoot to try to get some use out of those other
rifles lying in the cabinet.

It will be a great opportunity not only to learn They’re all 6mm cartridges but can you name
the basics of F Class competition but also to them all? (answer at the bottom of the page)
meet a few of the leading lights in F Class who
will be acting as instructors. A lot of shooters have a 6mm rifle or similar
(such as 6.5’s) but as the League shoots have
The week before the Bisley training weekend, progressed and F Class itself has progressed
we have the third Newark Shooting Show and it has become evident that whilst the 6mm is
of course, the GBFCA will be there to answer ideal for short-range shoots, it struggles at
all your questions and show you the latest kit. extreme ranges - particularly when the wind
British shooters deserve a great shooting show blows!
and this one is growing every year so please,
make a date for the 26/27th February. There are however always exceptions - as
(6BRX, 6BR, 6mmDasher, Swiss Match, 6-6.5x47, 6XC, 243Win., 243 Imp. 6mmXtreme,
6-284)

80 Target Shooter
the Swedish contingent proved at the recent
European Championships Team event by
beating almost the entire field with their ‘sixes’!
But, for mere mortals, it means that the sixes
don’t get to come out of the cabinet much.
will put you in touch with the organisers.
For the record, Greg Thompson won the Diggle
shoot with his 6mm and beat all the other Open
shooters as well!

Therefore, how about a 600 yard 6mm shoot

(but open to other calibres as well)? If it
sounds like your thing, Diggle has just had
its first competition and there will be others at
other ranges. The Diggle target was the PSSA
scoped rifle target with a half MOA V bull,
so challenging in any condition. If you had a
different calibre then it was still fine to shoot
but the idea was to get as many sixes on the
line as possible.

It certainly brought out different clutch of rifles

even if the faces behind the butts were the
same but we also got a few new shooters as
well who maybe wouldn’t normally try F Class.
It was so well received that the idea is to run
another, this time at Altcar ranges on January
23rd. If you are interested, let me know and I

Target Shooter 81
 Gallery Rifle & Pistol News

Gallery Rifle in Germany meals throughout the day.

The 350 mile trip from Calais to Marsberg in
Germany takes about five and a half hours
driving time, so regular stops and shared
driving arrangements are recommended,
otherwise with good roads and fair weather the
trip to the German Open Action Weekend was
uneventful. Marsberg is a small friendly town in
Westphalia where comfortable accommodation
and refreshments are plentifully and reasonably
priced. Having dealt with our physical needs,
what about our spiritual requirements – I mean
the shooting of course!
The November weather, although not cold,
comprised almost continuous drizzle so the
indoor range complex was a welcome venue and
is in every way an excellent facility. The range is
located in the small village of Leitmar a few miles
from Marsberg town and there are four ranges,
each with seven or eight firing points and turning
targets. Two of the ranges are 25 metres and
catered for the short events and the other two
staged the 50 metre events, although one also
has firing points at 100 metres. In addition to the
ranges the complex also provided a club room,
used as the reception and stats office during the
meeting, and a Café Bar providing drinks and
Plate 1
The Action Weekend is an annual event
organised along the lines of similarly named
events in Britain, with slightly different names
for the matches reminiscent of their pistol match
origins. On offer was the 1500, Timed and
Precision 1 and 2 and Multi-target Matches, in
small-bore, underlever centre-fire and MI Carbine
classes. Also available was a “Standard” class
with iron sights, equivalent to our “classic” class
I suppose for some of the short events. As well
as individual entries there were team entries of
four shooters in the shorts and pairs in Match 5
of the 1500 in all classes; so plenty of shooting
over the two days and the €6 match entry fee
represents excellent value.
On the Friday evening before the event we had
an opportunity to zero our firearms and try out the
MI Carbines provided by the Leitmar Club, who
also provided reasonably priced ammunition.
The MI Carbine has a bit of a cult following in
Germany and Holland with competitors travelling
considerable distances to attend meetings. The
rules for MI Carbine shooting require almost
absolute adherence to the concept of “spirit of
the original” so enthusiasts of “bells and whistle”
attachments and modifications may not be

Small-bore 1500 International

Germany Great Britain
Shooter Score X Shooter Score X
Reto Grün 1468 84 Norman Brown 1451 78
Torstein Riewe 1457 69 Mike Chinnery 1447 70
Roman Pfeifer 1443 55 Andrew Jarman 1443 87
Bruno Blüße 1439 54 Jon Avotoomayn 1443 57
Dietmar Hönersch 1429 42 Stephen Lamb 1416 63
Team Aggregate 5807 262 5784 292

82 Target Shooter
 1500 International Centre Fire Teams - Leitmar 2010
initially attached to them. Notwithstanding some
feed issues the MI Carbine has modest recoil
and despite the original military sighting system
I found them to be very accurate, when I did my
part. I would certainly recommend entering MI
events to would be future visitors to this event.
The November Meeting in Leitmar has
become something of an institution with British
Shooters and it is likely that match entries by
UK shooters equalled local numbers and the
range crews adapted by providing bi-lingual
range commands. The German reputation for
organisation was well justified with the squadded
German Team
50 metre matches running almost to timetable
and the “turn up and shoot” 25 metre events
being efficiently progressed with the minimum
of queuing and delay. It would be possible to
participate in all the matches on offer but I opted
for a slightly more relaxed programme of eight
over the weekend.
The International Match
Germany invited a challenge in the form of two
International 1500 Matches that could not be
ignored by the GB Gallery Rifle Team Captain,
Ashley Dagger, who fielded two teams of five
Target Shooter 83
 Plate 2
Small-bore 1500 International
Germany Great Britain
Shooter Score X Shooter Score X
Reto Grün 1487 93 Taff Wilcox 1493 104
Wilfried Gockel 1484 92 Andrew Jarman 1487 82
Frank Heymel 1484 87 Stephen Lamb 1484 99
Torstein Riewe 1482 95 Chris West 1479 100
Rolf Filbig 1464 71 Norman Brown 1477 93
Team Aggregate 5937 367 5943 385
shooters each in small-bore and standard Although there was little room for spectators
centre-fire classes. on the range during shooting, there was plenty
of interest and scoring advice in the range
Although the small-bore event is not yet officially ante-room where scoring took place. It was
a feature of the GB Squad portfolio, it is likely that difficult for the Captains to keep abreast of
it will be formally included next year. Sufficient progress in real time and even when the scores
talent was however on hand to provide a had been signed off and submitted terms like
substantial challenge and the small-bore match …”I think we …” and …”I feel that…” were being
was shot concurrently with the individual events used with more or less degrees of confidence.
and the scores of the nominated shooters were
aggregated for the team totals. Not unlike other Again the German Team proved to be very
sports the technically strong GB Team was out consistent but with the best four scores from the
shot by 26 points by the very consistent German five shooters counting it was a GB victory by the
Team – congratulations, first success to the narrowest of margin of just six points. A great
hosts! climax to an excellent weekend!

The centre-fire match was shot shoulder to Seasons End

shoulder over two details. The German fashion
is to shoot all six stages in quick succession
without scoring between matches. The six
target faces are tagged and retained for scoring
at the end of the match. This makes for a rapid
shoot with fitness and stamina becoming more
of an issue than in the more relaxed score as
you go method.
The trip to Germany was a great way to end
what has been an excellent season, which has
been busy, has contained some new events and
has seen the international GR Teams rapidly
improving and providing serious opposition for
the GB Gallery Rifle Team.

The excellent little M1 Carbine

Marlin Competition Special

84 Target Shooter
Prize Winners Parade

So what does 2011 have in store for us?

Trophys Table at Leitmar Well the selection of shooters for the 2011
GB Squad will take place based upon
eligible shooter’s (must be NRA Members)
ability and dedication. Whether small-bore
1500 internationals will be included, with
the possibility of a bigger squad to include
rim-fire specialists we will have to wait and
see, but all you can do is keep entering
classified matches and try and maintain a
consistent standard and you may get the
call.

Plenty to do over the winter months;

overhaul your equipment, test new loads
and remember that practice with a purpose
– Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Target Shooter 85
The Christmas season is upon us again
and it hardly seems that long since I was
writing a festive article for Target Shooter
last year......where does the year go! borrowed gun in many cases.
First off, on behalf of the UKPSA, I’d like to thank
Carl Boswell and the Team at Target Shooter
for their time and efforts devoted to this online
magazine. It’s been excellent to see it go from
strength to strength and is a tribute to the energies
we see so often in the shooting community –
individuals who seem to manage to find so much
time to give back to the sport, all shoe-horned
in between their hectic (I’m sure) shooting
calendar and private lives. Well done guys! Hughes, who was awarded the George Cross
This year
It’s been a tough year for shooters. Our six,
sanctioned, level III shotgun matches across
the UK require a level of dedication and cost
commitment that is hard to maintain in the
current financial climate for many, yet we still
had a very strong turnout at all the matches.
Our Shotgun British Open was due to be held at
Carlisle this year, but was cancelled in the wake
of the Cumbria shootings.
The UK Pistol shooters have not been idle
since the loss of handguns. Several excellent
UKPSA handgun courses have been run
this year in Northern Ireland, where civilian
ownership of handguns is still permitted.
Jim Gibney has been running UKPSA Long
Barrel revolver & pistol (LBR / LBP) courses
this side of the water, and having attended
one myself last year, I know everyone who
comes on the two-day course has a thoroughly
fantastic time. Much energy expended and
about 300 rounds of .357 is a good way to
spend a weekend under Jim’s watchful gaze
and subjected to his wry sense of humour.
The LBR / LBP match circuit has been very
active this year. Sometimes mixed with mini-rifle
and Gallery events, there have been matches at
Leicester Shooting Club, Carlisle and Bedford. a planned shoot in the morning, so you’ll
Some of our members attended the European
86 Target Shooter
Handgun Championships in Serbia this year
and shot exceptionally well for participants who
mostly cannot practice, as well as shooting a
Although not a UKPSA event, top UKPSA
shotgunner Mike Darby organised and ran
another excellent charity match early in the year
at Shield in Dorset. The DPOA multi-gun match
is a charity match aimed at raising money for the
Disabled Police Officers Association (DPOA),
and 2010 saw the third and biggest shoot yet.
A stage was also dedicated to the charity
“Help for Heroes” and we were all proud and
honoured to have with us Staff Sergeant Kim
in March this year for “selfless commitment
and unswerving devotion to duty” when
he dismantled seven IED devices without
protective equipment in Helmand, Afghanistan,
whilst under attack. A true hero indeed.
The match was kindly sponsored by Pete
Starley of MidwayUK, Shield Shooting
Centre, Mark Bradley of Bradley Arms,
NSC, The Tunnel Shooting Center, David
Ford Motors and Bride Valley Motors.
Money raised was in excess of £4000,
which was an excellent result. Thanks to
Mike, the sponsors, and all who helped
and attended this outstanding match.
Looking to 2011
The first major event next year is the AGM, this
year held on Sunday 23rd January 2011, at the
Wedgenock Ranges near Warwick. This is much
more central than the usual Bisley meeting, so we
would urge you all to come along and join in. There
will be the election for UKPSA council positions
and it is the membership’s opportunity to vote,
so please add your voice if you wish to be heard.
There will also be a presentation of trophies to
the Champions of 2010.
The AGM starts at 2.00pm, with a council
meeting beforehand at 10.00am. There is
not miss out on your traditional Sunday
 Your scribe - Tony Saunders

shoot before lunch. It should be great fun. best the world has to offer. This should be a
Directions to Wedgenock can be found on their fantastic experience for all those who attend.
website: http://www.wedgnock.co.uk/findus.
html The UKPSA has much planned for the coming
The match calendar for next year will be year. Some welcome changes to the website
finalised very soon, plus it will be the start of the and we are hoping to increase our venues
preparations and team selections for the first ever and membership. If you want to find out
IPSC Shotgun World Shoot in Hungary in 2012. A about the exciting world of practical shooting,
busy year (well two) is ahead of us – especially for please contact us or come along to one of
the organisers. Performance has never counted the matches. You’ll find a warm welcome
as much as it will over this next twelve months. and get a chance to see what it’s all about.
Detail to follow in the coming weeks so please
keep your eye on the UKPSA forum website. Finally, I would like to wish you and your families
a very Merry Christmas and joyful break over
There is a Handgun World Shoot XVI in October the festive season, ahead of a prosperous
2011, in Rhodes Greece, where we expect to New Year! 
have over 20 shooters taking part against the

Target Shooter 87
 Next time in.....

The February 2011 issue will be out on the at the beginning of the month. Lots of follow up articles, new
reviews, news and as ever packed with the articles you want to read.

88 Target Shooter