Semi-Auto and Vintage Military

[Bwake]

If you're a high power shooter who would like to take a break from your high magnification scopes, you might want to consider shooting a military rifle. The Ridgway Rifle Club in PA has two shoots left for this year; May 15 and June 12 (state championship).

The whole thing is really geared toward M1 and M1A rifles but any country's rifle can be used. The usual 6mm minimum caliber rule applies and of course no armor piercing ammo allowed. What's more is that we welcome vintage bolt actions also, although these are handled as a club-level event since the NRA only sanctions the semi-auto. For the standard matches, it's fun to mix things up by shooting the different guns for each match, but with the June match counting for records, It's best to stick with the semi-auto.

A copy of the program is posted on the club website.

- Brian

[ppkny]

This is a great match. We shot it last year. The range at Ridgway is top notch. I don't remember if they required a shell catcher but it's a good idea.
ppkny

[Jason]

Why the black targets? They don't stand out well against the background and definitely won't stand out against a front sight or dot reticle.

[Bob Mc Alice]

Jason, that photo shows what looks to be over cast conditions with no direct sunlight on the range.

My guess is that you have only shot white targets on the Pe Ell range, correct? Tucson, Phoenix, Raton, Ridgway and others fire on black targets because they stand out well against their soil and average light conditions. Lander, WY used to shoot black but now shoot white because they got tired of having to repaint to black every time the BP shooters changed them to white. It was a " if you cant beat them join them" kind of thing. Too bad, black is better for the Lander range.

While I can not comment on iron sight contrast with black targets, I will say you are wrong about scope reticle contrast against black targets. All of my HP's have the factory 1/8th min. dot and I have no trouble seeing it against flat black targets in most light conditions. We shoot both black and white depending on the light conditions and on whether or not I get my way during set up. I prefer black targets. We run about 50/50 on what color our shooters like.

[Innocent]

Pink is the preferred color!

Innocent

[Jason]

My guess is that you have only shot white targets on the Pe Ell range, correct?.

I've shot at many ranges, including the Pe Ell range, but only on white targets. That's why I'm asking. I have painted cowboy targets black during a week long discussion on here regarding color and can say for sure that that front sights disappear into them. The dot reticle in my scope was also significantly less visible. There was not direct sun on the front of the targets at the time, as it was evening and the sun was coming from the side by then. Does black only work well when there's direct sunlight?

[Bob Mc Alice]

I know your Pe Ell range is in that narrow cut thru the trees and is mostly shaded. White is a must for visibility there. Our range faces north with no light restrictions at all...open prairie. Black targets show up well in any light conditions no matter what time of day. Black absorbs light better than white. White ones reflect light more and tend to wash out from sunlight in the early morning and mid afternoon. They are good on a cloudy day. The complaint here against black targets is that the spotters claim they can see hits better on white than silver splashes on black. I see no big difference between the colors as for spotting hits.

The IHMSA long range shooters at our club will only use black targets for the same reason...they show up well in any light conditions. They have all of the other handgun silhouette targets painted black as well. All of our smallbore ranges use white targets.

[ywltzucanrknrl]

I'm a little confused, but that happens easily to me. Anyway is this Military Vintage match at 200 yards on the Service Rifle target? Or is this a different Vintage Military match where you shoot silhouettes?

[Bob259]

I'm a little confused, but that happens easily to me. Anyway is this Military Vintage match at 200 yards on the Service Rifle target? Or is this a different Vintage Military match where you shoot silhouettes?

It's a conventional HP Silhouette match shot at the distances at HP Silhouette animals with a open sight Military rifle (M1)

[boats]

Iron sight matches that require post like CLA I prefer White targets, however better to be able to shoot black ones too. Many ranges paint black and you don't want to show up for a match and find something you have never seen before. We switch ours between black and white just to keep everybody on there toes and ready for anything.

Boats