It wasn't your typical match for sure as we had to work around the weather both days. I don't know what the wind speeds were exactly, but there was enough wind to cause tall pines the lean over 10 feet & more when it was on them.
We started late Saturday once the rain had pretty much ended, but it left us with a very gray target area. I was shooting my .44-77 with a scope and I have no idea how guys with irons were able to see the target.
We did manage to get everybody through two 1000 yard relays before the rain returned. Brent and I were shooting together but calling our own wind since our 3rd guy was unable to make it. Just staying on paper in the rapidly changing winds was not easy, I managed to leak the last shot on each relay off the target!
Talking to other shooters not many were able to keep all shots on paper even with coaching.
I was in the pit when the rain returned in the afternoon and the targets got wet fast. Pasters would't stick. When that relay ended we put the targets away for the day.
I finished day one in second place 11 points behind Tony Martello. I was pretty happy with the way my .44-77 was shooting even though my scores didn't look very good.
On Sunday Brent and I were able to pick up a 3rd guy, Bob Walline, because one shooter was unable to shoot that day. Bob and I were able to coach Brent to the win even with the on and off drizzle.
Brent shot very well with arguably the best two spotters on the line working hard to keep him on paper and in the middle most of the time.
Sunday was a miserable cold day with on and off drizzle that had everybody digging through their cars and trucks for more clothes to layer up against the bitter winds that I think were even harder to read than those on Saturday. I had two jackets on, one over the other, and I must have looked like a turtle crawling out of his shell after each shot. The recoil would kind of push me back inside the many layers as my jacket would stay in place on the mat and I would slide back inside my shell.
While the 1st relay on Saturday at 900 went very well for me and my .44-77, I gave up too many points on the last two relays to finish near the top. Even then I was only 8 points out of 3rd place.
This was by far my best result yet with my .44-77 in a long range match and makes me think I'm headed in the right direction with this rifle. Maybe under more shooter friendly conditions I could hold up my end a bit better, the rifle and load certainly did their part.
Congratulations to Brent, Steve and Tony, all three shot very well in some tough conditions to finish in the top three.
These kind of matches are not a lot of fun at the time but always leave me with good memories of sticking it out, staying in the game and spending time with like minded friends. Any way you look at it it's time well spent!