Angeles Match

Today's weather forecast on Yahoo and on the news predicted torrential rain with thunder storms throughout Southern California. Seeing the partial cloudy skies with sunlight upon waking this morning had me questioning if the match was going to go forth. Over and over in my head was the phrase that Tim had told me in regards to rain and CASA continuing to shoot FT matches, "Rain or shine we shoot". With a shadow of a doubt, I thought there were exceptions to the rule. However, I packed my gear anyways and decided to make the 35 min trip to Angeles.


During my travel to the range, there was a fading blue sky as low setting, thick, dark clouds closed in from the north-west direction. During the middle of the match, with the blotted-out sky, came severe winds with light rain. Some of us rushed shots in hopes of beating the rain before shooting conditions became harsh.


At the end of the match, Ian Roberts and Joe Haddad tied for 1st Place necessitating the need for a final shoot-off. The target was a frog on a wooden post at 40 yards. It had a 1 1/4" approximate size kill zone of which many of us missed at least once or completely. On the Troyer Factor Scale its rated as a 40 which is classified as an expert level shot. Joe Haddad took 1st place winning it through shoot-off. Ian Robert's took 2nd and I took 3rd place. Steve Moore took 1st and was the only shooter in the spring class. We all know he would off taken 1st place anyways competitor or not.

Total Points Possible 32

PCP
1st Joe Haddad 24 Steyr LG | NS 10-50 | CPH
2nd Ian Roberts 24 USFT | NS10-50 | JSB H
3rd Gene Adamos 22 USFT | NS 10-50 | JSB H
4th Tim McMurray 20 USFT| NS 10-50 | JSB H

Spring
1st Steve Moore 19 R11| 6-24 Elite | FTS

Hunter
1st Ron Jobbes 11 B-50 | Leapers 16 | CPH

Thanks again Tim for the embroidery and the tank fill. I appreciate what extra lengths you do for CASA, FT'ers and airgunners in general. Thank you Richard for the taking the photo shots and allowing me to borrow the SD Card.

IFP - Internation Field Target. The $3 Dollar Shoot-Out

Today, CASA held an IFP Match. IFP stands for International Field Position and it is shot the 3rd weekend of every month @ Angeles shooting range. Targets are provided by MAC-1 Air Guns and only cost a 1 time fee of $3 dollars for the day. It was a great turn out. Many people showed up. It was Gene, me, myself and Tim. We shot a course of 3 sessions.


Gene
1st Session 40
2nd Session 34
3rd Session 33

Tim
1st Session 35
2nd Session 32
3rd Session 32

The morning started off with a calm breeze with mild effect on pellet drift progressing to moderate wind with unpredictable trajectory effects.

The Rules. On each IFP sheet are 25 bulls-eye targets. Each target is shot only 1 time from the seated position. Jackets and harnesses are allowed. All targets must be shot and completed within 30 minutes. For a novice, each session can be easily completed. Shots within the center ring are 2 points. Shots with a direct hit on the center ring are often question ables. Shots, in the slightest bit, breaking out of the ring are counted as 1. Shots with a hit direct hit on the outer ring and break out, or are completely outside the surrounding ring are counted as zer0.

The Fun Factor. The fun is self-driven and self perpetuating. Each shot is recorded and each error or miss is seen. Perceivable errors and misses sets the bar to shoot each session better than the previous. Total score possible for each session is 50 points. Larry Durham, father and creator of the world renowned Simple Simon FT Airgun, which today is referred to the USFT, made the IFP hall of fame with a record score of 46 - a score to either match or dominate.

Read further below to read about Lake Scope Knob.

Rick Lake Elite 4200 Scope Knob

I recently purchased a Bushnell Elite 4200 Custom Elevation Scope Knob from Rick Lake. For those of you who lack knowledge on who Rick Lake is; in brief he is a phenomenal machinist from Maryland who has provided some of the most consistent and cleanest work of FT parts I have ever seen.

The Low Down. A custom oversized scope knob is one of the single greatest accessory you can add to your FT scope. The reason for this is a couple things: 1. It spans out the scope knob markers and allows the shooter to handwrite ranges. Being able to handwrite the ranges directly on the scope knob gets rid of the need to use a scope chart. 2) It decreases the rotation of axis making elevations adjustments quick and easy with one swift turn of the knob.



So what is the difference between this and the other custom scope knobs? For one thing is its price. Shipped to your door its only $40.00 as opposed to $45, $50 and $65+. The other thing is how its designed. Rick hollowed out the scope knob like a drum. Most scope knobs I have seen are conically hollowed out or are solid. The LPM Knob, with its drum hollowed design enhances the tactility of each click making it more palpable at the finger tips. The hollowness also allows each click to reverb through the knob making it audibly louder and solid sounding. The conically hollowed or solid delrin scope knobs provide more of a dampened feel and sound. The wavy crown of the scope knob allows for comfortable finger placement to make click adjustments a snap. A great feature for spring gun FT shooters is that the knob allows direct visualization of the grub screw that holds the elevation knob into place. Sometimes after a number of shots on a springer, the grub screw vibrates loose and it has to be tightened. The knob provides enough space to access the screw with a long nose plier or other tool for tightening.

The knob is set with 3 allen wrench set screws. A small allen wrench is provided as a complete package.




If you are interested in purchasing one, contact information is listed on the right hand column under contacts or you can link directly (click here).

Temecula FT Winter Match - Jan 13 th, 2008, SUNDAY

Sunday, January 13, 2008. The day started off to a bright and beautiful morning with the sun slowly rising up behind the high desert west Temecula mountains. I was apprehensive on how the weather was going to be due to the rainy weather conditions that California has been receiving lately. Seeing the clear blue morning skies provided an amazing breath taking panoramic view.

*Each pic can be clicked on for closer viewing.


Match Points Possible = 47
Total Field Target Points = 37

Some of the lanes had a single target. The match rule for those lanes was that the shooter had to shoot the single target 3 times, each being a different shooting position (standing, sitting, kneeling or prone).

Each competitor had to shoot an IFP 5 bulls-eye target in LD's tunnel in the seated position. Each bull had two rings. Shooting the inner center ring was 2 points. Shooting the outer surrounding ring equaled 1 point. Shooting completely outside the bullseye equaled zer0 points. The total bullz-eye points possible equaled 10 points making a total of 47 points possible.


There were two shooting courses at LD's Ranch of which some of us called The Ridge and The Valley. Shooting @ The Ridge area provided a grand and beautiful view of the valley projecting as if you were shooting from cliff to cliff. The terrain was getting green from the new natural yearly vegetation.


The Valley course was difficult for most competitors. Occasional mild wind channeled quickly from the mountains and into the valleys causing pellet drift up to 4-6 inches left and right. Despite the fact, many were able to clean some of the lanes.


The total number of competitors that showed up was 14. In the springer division there was 3 competitors and in the PCP division there was 11.

Springer Division

1st Kevin Yee 32 Kraner Tuned AA TX200 | Nikko 10-50 | JSB L

2nd Joe Cortez 10 AA TX200 | Bushnell Legend | FTS
3rd Alain Herrera 3 RWS 34 | Gold Antler 3-9 | Super Domes



PCP Division
1st Doug Miller 43 P70FT | Nikko 10-50 | CPH
2nd Gene Adamos 37 USFT | Nikko 10-50 | JSB H [*Won in Tie Breaker\
3rd Larry Durham 37 USFT | Elite 4200 6-24 | CPH
4th Vipha Miller 35 P70FT | Leupold 35x | CPH
4th Ian Roberts 35 USFT | Nikko 10-50 | JSB H


5th Roger Lovett 34 P70| Elite 4200 8-32 | FTS
6th Tim McMurray 32 USFT | Nikko 10-50 | JSB H
6th Dave Frederick 32 USFT | Tasco 10-40 | JSB H
7th Vince Pacheco 30 USFT 12ft/lbs | Elite 4200 8-32 | JSB H
8th Steve Rush 26 Logun Solo | Elite 4200 8-32 | CPH
9th Mario Herrera 8 FX Swift | Unknown | Unknown


Doug Miller did a phenomenal shoot in only missing 1 field target the whole match. The marginal flawless shoot firmly placed him in 1st Place. Larry and I, with our tied scores, headed face to face in a 40 yard shoot-off on a 7/8 KZ field target to declare who was going to be 2nd. Read above for who took 2nd.

Thank you Kevin Yee from Northern California for driving 7 hours away to participate and compete in our match. Despite what others may say, being able to shoot equal or better than a PCP Competitors score is quite a feat. Its an earned 1st placed.



Thank you Mario Herrera, his son Alain and Joe Cortez for coming to Temecula to shoot with us. You guys are now passed field target orientation and now know what gear to use for competition. CASA hopes in seeing you @ our matches from this upcoming week and forth. Let it be emphasized that you gentleman are always welcome to any of our matches.




A major thanks goes out to to Larry Durham and his wife for allowing the CASA team to shoot @ their beautiful ranch estate and allowing this one day event to happen. And also thanks to everyone for their support and for their help during the whole process.

We have two new CASA members from San Diego, Roger Lovett and Steve Rush. Both have been shooting with us for nearly one year and we are glad to have them as official CASA members.