AusVarmint

Last weekend I attended my first Combined Services pistol and rifle shoot at SSAA Mudgee firearms range. The competition was held over three days. Participants had to use military/law enforcement pistols/revolvers and military service rifles (or faithful reproductions). There were numerous matches held over the weekend all at various ranges. Being relatively new to the discipline, I borrowed a Beretta 92F - 9x19mm, a Smith & Wesson 586 - 357 Mag, a Lee Enfield No.8 trainer - 22LR and two ERA P14s - 303 Brit.

Being an ungraded new shooter I was automatically thrown into the "Grand Master" grade competing against guys that are in the SSAA State & National Military shooting teams!!! I thought; oh great, no chance!!!

On Friday the Pistol and Trainer matches were held. The Pistol matches consisted of a three position deliberated at 25m, three position core event (25m, 15m & 7m) and a kneeling rapid fire at 15m. The military trainer match was as also a three position event shot at 100m, 75m & 50m.


Beretta 92F - 9x19mm & S&W 586 - 357 Mag


No.8 Trainer - 22LR

Saturday was the commencement of the military rifle matches. It was quite evident on the day that the Swedes clearly out numbered the Brits 2:1 with a lonely Kraut from Oberndorf in there too. The first event being metallic silhouette with consisted of chickens, pigs, turkeys and rams at 150m, 200m, 300m & 400m respectively. That was extremely difficult with standard military sights. The 6.5x55mm Swedes had problems knocking over the rams at 400m, where as the 303s and the 8x57mm knocked them over emphatically. The next match was a precision match at 300m, followed by a three position event (300m, 200m & 100m) then a rapid fire event at 100m. The rapid fire event was most enjoyable as it emulated defensive fire against a fixed bayonet charging enemy. Points were deducted for each shot not fired – a double whammy.


The Brits outnumbered by Swedes


98K - 8x57mm & M96 - 6.5x55mm


Genuine 1937 Oberndorf Mauser 8x57mm complete with Nazi Eagles & Swastikas

The 303 load used was; Sierra 174gr HPBT MatchKing, 46.2grs AR2209.

Sunday's competition consisted of a three position event (300m, 200m & 100m) and rapid fire event at 100m using an accuracy modified military rifle. The P14 I used had a Parker-Hale aperture sight. There was a "ring-in" there; a Tikka T3 Varmint 223 (5.56x45mm) with a M16A4 sight configuration.


Tikka T3 Varmint with M16A4 sights shooting with SMLEs, P14s & M96s


A very pleasing result

For my first combined services pistol and rifle competition, I surprised myself by winning five trophies; four for pistol and 3rd place overall in the combined pistol and rifle aggregate for the weekend.

Overall, it was a enjoyable and rewarding weekend away.

Congrats on the trophies Drew, looks like a lot of fun.

Well done mate. Not a bad range or group of blokes at Mudgee and if you stay at the caravan park down the road you can wet a line for yellowbelly, silver perch and catfish in Windamere dam as well, while burning a snag and having a cool drink at the end of the day.

The 6.5's will have trouble with sillywets if you decide to buy a rifle the Isreali K98 conversions in 308 are a pretty good choice as well.

cheers
Rinso

Well done Drew

What targets and times are used in the pistol events? Might have to give it a go some time.

are there any restrictions on sights??

if someone had a parkerhale and a ZF issue scope could they use it??

do you know if this is a national comp or just Mudgee??

P

Well done Drew, looks like a fun shoot and a top result for you.

Now i know what to do with the safe full of cluinkers i have.

Great shoot wasn't it Drew!
I was one of the Nat team GMs that you shot against. My swede knocked all the rams bar one & I shot him in the cock
We (Grafton team) shot on Fri & sat & traveled to Spring Ridge to shoot in a Belly Flopers Prize Shoot on sunday....great weekend all round. Did Country win?, we left before the presentation.
Ogre the CvC is part of the NSW GP Tour but it is a national comp.
cheers Mort

Morten - PM sent
P

Rinso wrote:Well done mate. Not a bad range or group of blokes at Mudgee and if you stay at the caravan park down the road you can wet a line for yellowbelly, silver perch and catfish in Windamere dam as well, while burning a snag and having a cool drink at the end of the day.

The 6.5's will have trouble with sillywets if you decide to buy a rifle the Isreali K98 conversions in 308 are a pretty good choice as well.

We stayed in the caravan park. The Mudgee guys & gals are a great bunch. I had a great time and will more than likely go again next year. I've just committed to a Class 1 Military pistol - CZ75B 9x19mm and also looking for a service rifle in 7x57mm.

220 wrote:What targets and times are used in the pistol events? Might have to give it a go some time.

Thanks mate. The targets are standard service type with a white rectangle in the 10 ring to represent the X or 0.1 score to remove the chance of tied scores. Times varied from 30sec, 20sec, 10sec and 5sec. I can't remember the course of fire, but it was fun!

morten wrote:Great shoot wasn't it Drew!
I was one of the Nat team GMs that you shot against. My swede knocked all the rams bar one & I shot him in the cock
We (Grafton team) shot on Fri & sat & traveled to Spring Ridge to shoot in a Belly Flopers Prize Shoot on sunday....great weekend all round. Did Country win?, we left before the presentation.

SENSATIONAL. I'm not a target rifle shooter, but I had an excellent time. I think you guys helped Ben & I out with a 357 Mag ammo problem. Did you shoot with a CZ75 9mm in Class 1?

Country won.

I borrowed a CZ SP01 9mm to shoot class 1,I think I'll have to buy myself one!
Jeez didn't the tap water stink at the caravan park.....smelled like a fart every time the tap was used!
mind you there were a lot of stray farts floating around in our van , we were in the van next to Ben.

morten wrote:I borrowed a CZ SP01 9mm to shoot class 1,I think I'll have to buy myself one!
Jeez didn't the tap water stink at the caravan park.....smelled like a fart every time the tap was used!
mind you there were a lot of stray farts floating around in our van , we were in the van next to Ben.

So we heard. The tank water was quite good. Hope you fellas enjoyed the Bundy.