by Wacky Wayne Burns
The weather could not have been better. Very light wind, partly cloudy, and 65 to 70 degrees. We started late, around 2:00pm, so the sun was in our eyes for the second half of the match.
Only four of us shooting today. Ronnie Easton came up from the Sacramento area. Locals, Ed Markey and our newest, youngest shooter Justin, and the oldest shooter, me.
Ed brought his HW50 .177 cal springer and Justin shot my AAS400. They shot in Hunter class, but only had time for about half the course, both were hittin
g about half their shots while they figured out the hold over.
Ronnie was shooting his 12fpe EV2 & I shot with my 19fpe USFT#6. We shot one shot per target, and most lanes had 3 targets for a 48 shot course.
We had a really close match. We started out on the standing lanes, where I had a 3/4" @ 16yds, & 1-1/2" at 19yds. I missed them both! Ronnie made them both! But then I cleaned the next four lanes and Ronnie missed two in those same lanes, so we were tied. We had problems with a couple targets, but we fixed them as we shot the course. It was really close, as we both were cleaning most of the lanes. Then we came to the 3/8" KZs and we each missed one and made one. Tied again at 42/48 each.
So, we stayed on that lane and shot the 3/8" kill zones again. Ronnie made one and missed one. I got lucky and dropped them both this time.
What a great day of shooting. Ronnie and I had a great time and I feel the targets are getting closer to being ready for the big match at the end of the month.
Wacky Wayne,
Match Director,
Ashland Air Rifle Range
Wacky Wayne
ReplyDeleteThanks for the blog Wayne, I have been quite curious about your setup at AARR&R for awhile. Good luck with the match, I am sure it will be an unqualified success. Give my best to Mrs. Claus.
(Does #44 ever get jealous of #6?)
the time i had at Ashland was to be remembered. it started off with a 4 hour drive out of Sacramento heading north on I-5. after about the half way mark at Redding, the mountain terrain and and views of the land are increadable. the following 2 hours went by so fast and before i new it, i was pulling of the freeway at Ashland Air rifle Range. one feels like he is up north. the clean air feels so good compared to the city life. i have not had such a great time since Nationals in Texas. the small town in Ashland have these little shops that line the street and brings one back to the way things used to be. peaceful. this is a place where the people wave at you when you drive or walk by. people are happy here, and for those that want a nice get away, look no further. bring the wife because there are plenty of things for her to do as well. if a guy wants to shoot on one of the finest course on the west coast and take his honey out for a night on the town, he can do it. Ashland is known for there Plays. Shakespear is number one and is agueably the best place on the planet for this type of venue. plenty of eat spots too. with all the lakes and streams in the area combined with other eminities makes this a great spot to bring the hole family. the weather is increadible all summer here. i look forward to many return trips to Ashland. the hospitality Wayne gives everyone who shows makes a guy feel welcome and want to return, and do it all over again :) camping near by has full hook up for RV's and campsite for tents as well right off the lake only 5 minutes from the Range. this place even has showers i here. sweet. also 5 minutes away are some nice places to stay the night right in the middle of one of the most prettiest towns one has ever seen.
ReplyDeletehad a super fun time shooting with Wyane and company and look forward to the Grand Prix coming up in a few weeks. the course looks amazing imo, and Wayne has also made many improvements to the range since i last attended one year ago. the place just keeps getting better and better. :)
Ronnie
Slinging Lead,
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting! Chris says howdy hey back at ya. She had a nice Mothers' Day, breakfast out, daughter in town, and roses..
Yes, USFT #44 has been sulking in the corner this year.
We are trying something new at our range this year. I plan to let folks shoot the course twice in the same day. Once in 12fpe international or hunter class, at 6:30 am and then again, with only 1 hour break at most, in the 20fpe open class at 10 am. That way one can get a score in both classes, if they have the endurance!
I've always wanted to compete in both international and open 20fpe, some others mentioned they hated deciding between international and open class too, so were going to try it here at the Ashland Rifle Range.
Now #44 gets to play too!
Wacky Wayne
Ronnie,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for making the long drive, and helping me get the targets in better shape.
We sure had one heck of a seesaw match! I had a great time shooting with you. You really won the match, since you were shooting 12fpe, and me 19.5fpe. That was some great shooting on your part.
I look forward to seeing you at the end of the month. I'll make the course even tougher!
Wacky Wayne
thanks for the compliments Wayne. we were going at it shot for shot. that was some of the most nail biting competition i have been through lol. :) win or loose, it honestly did not matter to me. the fact we had such a close match was real exciting to me. something i wouldn't mind repeating all over again. the trees over head makes for nice shade and challenging on range finding. the sun peaking through the trees also makes for a tougher shot. your course is pretty diffecult imo. up hill slope, variable and shifting cross winds can be deseaving. so i am real proud of that 42/48 score. :)
ReplyDeleteRonnie
may i also add that one shot per target adds a whole new level to the game. i love it. if i ever have the chance to run a match, i would design my course based on that principal.
ReplyDeleteRonnie
Ronnie,
ReplyDeleteI worked on the course again this weekend. I changed the second standing lane so you have to shoot between a "Y" in a tree trunk and they are long tough shots! I seriously doubt anyone will clean this course. If they do they be shooting damn good!
Wacky Wayne
sounds great! i can't wait to see it :) there was a shot like that at Arizona State finals last year. i missed it twice lol.
ReplyDeleteRonnie
We'll be shooting a little on Sunday afternoon. Bob said he'll come up, and I hope some our local team will come and practice.
ReplyDeleteWe got the benches and separate seats done for the bench rest contests.
The deck and stairs should also get done this weekend we hope.
Larry is about half done with the 40 more target boxes too. I've got the timers, kite reels and no stretch line and 40 more targets for a different course for the pistol events.
I think we'll shoot about half the same course we shot the first day, but I'll use some of the pistol targets and move the shooting line back, so the second rifle day will much different.
Wacky Wayne,
Match Director,
Ashland Air Rifle Range