Prone match???????????

[riflejunkie]

I'm considering a prone match.  How many would be interested and most importantly, how many of you have rifles that you can put a sling on?  The sling only needs to be attached on the forearm.

[neric]

Can you point me to a place to read up on the prone position.  Does one 'need' a sling?

I an interested,,,, but very ignorant.

[TCups]

Double entendres aside, being asked to join one of the GTA ladies in a prone match seems interesting.  I would have to order a sling and shoot the Daisy 853.  Point me to a web site where I can order a sling and I will give it a try.

[kirby999]

I'm Game !! I have a mat . with my rifles being single shots , I'm not sure I'd go the trouble of using a sling . How far are we talking here. 25yards? 50 yards ? kirby

[Mick]

Yep ... that should be something a "legless"(sic) ol' fogey can manage - lol !   Actually I'm also planning on shooting the Prone Smallbore series at CRC starting in March !   Just going to use my "Old Faithful" CZ 452 Lux that has won me a few Golds in CMP competition over the years.   Why not put an extra spoonful of gas in your tank and come up and join in the fun Charlotte ... and Dave ?   Matches are always the first Saturday in the month, registering at 8:00AM

Mick

[daved]

Uh, Charlotte, we just got 4" of fresh snow last night :-)!  But I'm still interested, and I'm thinking a repeater would be an advantage here?  Of course, I also have an 853, and like Tommy, I need to be pointed at a sling.  However, if the range is over 10M, I'm not sure the 853 will make it ;-).  Later.

Dave

[TCups]

Yes, I was planning to  start slow -- crawling, so to speak -- at 10 meters, at home, indoors, on the carpet.  And maybe try to shoot 3-position with my venerable Walther LGR-U unless that is totally inappropriate.  How much competitive edge do you give up if you shoot san sling?

[gamo2hammerli]

Newbie in rifle/air rifle shooting here. I`m guessing the rifle in NOT resting on any bag or rest....and only held in the hands propped up on elbows? It`ll be fun....I`ll give it a go. What distance are we talking about?

[Truman]

Anybody found a simple way of cocking a springer in the prone position? If so, I'm in! :D

[riflejunkie]

#1 Yes, you pretty much need a sling to be competetive.  #2  http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=966254 #3 Kirby, you will be at a disadvantage without a sling.  Avoiding learning how to use a sling is like playing baseball without learning how to bat.  Mick, care to elaborate on that? #4 TCup, I shoot my FWB300 from prone and my 853 also and pump them in position.  Not a problem.  If I can get my daughter to take video I can show you how simple it is.  I know there is some guy who shoots CMP rimfire sporter with a Ruger 10/22 and doesn't use a sling and he's notoriously good.  (The 10/22 is not good under sling pressure.) However I think once you have used a sling you would never entertain the thought of prone without one unless you were using a rest of some sort, but then that's F class.  #5 10 meters #6  I've never considered shooting prone in a sling in anything like a break barrel and that to me is the achilles heel of the break barrel, but Shirley it can be done.LOL (Don't call you Shirley)haha

[Mick]

Yes indeed Charlotte ... for stability in any position, a sling should be considered the #1 accessory for any competition shooter ... and yes I said ANY position, even Offhand !  I have been having an ongoing feud with Gary, the head of CMP, for years in that they totally mss the boat in denying the use of one in the Offhand position in Sporter Rifle competition ... and more to the point in even allowing single-ended slings in a Sporter/Hunting Rifle event !

But enough of my soapbox rantings !   Typical formal rifle competitors mostly use a single-ended sling arrangement ... the sling is hooked to the forward swivel and runs straight back to the upper arm left arm, (for right-handed shooters), where itis looped around above the biceps/tricep muscle mass.   It should be tight, but not so much that blood circulation is impeded else a definite heavy pulse beat will be transmitted to the forearm of the rifle.   In essence it locks the upper body/arms/elbows into a rigid "tripod-like" position.   For those who use the sling in the traditional manner ... as a rifle carrying device ... the sling can be adjusted in length such that by inserting the left elbow into the dangling sling, and then allowing the forward section of the sling to pass over the forearm near the wrist, a similar degree of support can be achieved.   This arrangement can be used in any position.

Mick

[Mick]

One other thing ... shooting Prone with a 753/853 series pump rifle is not that bad although it does require a certain degree of agility.   We teach our JROTC cadets to rollover onto their left sides ... then sliding the rifle rearwards with the trigger hand, while at the same time holding the "pump handle" in a sort of "arms spread" motion.   When in the fully open position holding it there for 1-2 seconds before returning it to the closed/pumped position.   At that point replace the left elbow on the mat and get back into position ... awkward ... and it does upset one cardinal rule of NOT changing basic position during the shooting of a single stage - Sigh !

Mick

[daved]

So can I just shoot my FX Cyclone :-)?  Biathlon cocking, 8 shot repeater, and I have 5 magazines for it.  Guess I need to order the sling clamp for it now ;-).

On a sort of related subject, for those that have 853's, what pellet(s) are you using?  I find this thing is terribly sensitive to pellet weight, CP Match at 7.9 gr. is what I'm shooting at the moment, but I think I still need to go lighter.  Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks.

Dave

[riflejunkie]

Prone matches are "single load" events except for rapid fire stages like in service rifle or cmp rimfire sporter.  As for pellets, sometimes I use RWS Meisterkugeln, sometimes Gamo Match and in this last offhand match I used JSB Exact 8.4.  I think for serious 10 meter target shooters Vogel is the pellet of choice.  For a real precision event like prone a wadcutter is necessary esecially when using a 10 meter air rifle target.  
If you can find the NRA #A17 target, give it a look and for our purposes I think it will be easier to score without making the match way too easy.  The Gamo target would be fine if we were shooting at 25 yds, but not everyone has that distance available and the sights on the 853 won't adjust to that range.  When practicing for my smallbore prone match with my FWB I use the Gamo at 25yds because errors in my position are more visibly similar to what I see on the smallbore targets and the size of the Gamo bull is appropriate for a similar sight picture in my front aperture at 25 yds as would be a 50 yd target at 50 yds. (did that make sense?)

[Mick]

By the way ... as a Postscript to to my earlier comment about joining in "the fun" at one or more of our Chattanooga RC smallbore matches ... the following link will take you to the Club calendar for dates and times ... be aware that we are a "Closed Private Club" and that you will need to notify the Match Director ahead of time so that someone can open the gate and let you in - lol !   Any visitor can enter our matches.   The Smallbore Prone events have seperate divisions for Match Rifles ... Sporter Rifles with any sights ... and "F" Class - any rifle, using any sights, and with forearm support, such as a bipod or sandbag, etc.   If you you bring your own tree stump or log for support you must take it home with you !

http://www.chattanoogarifleclub.org/calender.html

Mick