MidwayUSA Starts Shooting Sports Foundation–Potterfields Donate $500K+

Larry and Brenda Potterfield of MidwayUSA recently established the MidwayUSA Foundation, a not-for-profit public foundation designed to provide financial support for education and training in the areas of shooting, hunting, firearms safety and outdoor skills.

The Potterfields donated over half a million dollars as the first donation to the Foundation. “New shooters are the lifeblood of our industry,” said Larry Potterfield, President of MidwayUSA, a catalog and internet retailer of shooting and hunting products. “Bringing new shooters into the sport is critical to the future of the shooting sports.”

To this end, the Foundation’s first endowment is the Scholastic Shooting Trust (SST) Fund. Via the SST fund, an alumnus (or other interested party), can make a donation to a particular high school or college program. That donation will be used to support the designated school’s existing shooting program or to help launch a shooting program.

“Here is how the program works,” continued Potterfield. “I just used the Foundation Website to make a donation for the University of Missouri’s Shooting Team. A portion of the donation will be contributed to the Shooting Team, with the remainder left as endowment principal. Every year in perpetuity, the Shooting Team will receive earnings from the principal to use for the team’s operating expenses.” Contributions to the SST Fund can be made through the Fund’s website at www.ScholasticShootingTrust.org.

OnTarget Program Measures Group Sizes

Jeffrey Block has created a great new FREE software program, OnTarget, that measures shot groups quickly and precisely. All you need is a photo or scan of your target. The program allows you to set your target distance, and provides caliber-specific tools to precisely mark the center of each shot. Once you’ve marked each bullet hole, Jeff’s OnTarget program automatically calculates group center, maximum group spread (CTC), average distance to center, group width and height, and group offset from point of aim. The program will even measure multiple groups on the same target.

After just a few minutes spent learning the program’s tool buttons, we were able to plot shot groups on a variety of targets with ease.

Once you select the target distance and bullet diameter, figuring group size is a simple matter of centering a circle tool over each bullet hole. Then the program “connects the dots” and provides all the info you could want automatically.

The program worked with bullet holes as small as 17 caliber and as large as 50 caliber. It is very precise, but remember that if your target photo was taken at an angle, distorted perspective can cause slight errors in measurement. Therefore, for the ultimate precision, you want to start with a flat scan of the target.

OnTarget Compared to Measuring Manually
We found OnTarget to be especially useful for groups with widely dispersed bullet holes, or very small bullet holes, such as 17 caliber holes. We’ve found that it’s difficult to measure 17-cal group sizes with a standard caliper, because the tool itself obscures the tiny holes. With OnTarget, the program can zoom up your target view, making it much easier to plot the center of each shot. And with a widely dispersed group of shots, the program automatically finds the two most distant shots. You can’t mistakenly pick the wrong pair of shots to measure.

Flash Tutorial Shows How It Works
Jeff created an excellent animated Flash tutorial demonstrating OnTarget’s functions. It shows how to import a target image or scan, how to set target distance and scale, how to set bullet size and circle each bullet hole, and how to save the marked and measured target.

CLICK HERE to VIEW TUTORIAL

MEASURING REAL TARGETS

Here are examples we created with OnTarget. The first photo shows a 17 Mach 2 target. These tiny 17-cal holes are notoriously hard to measure. With OnTarget, it’s a snap. You just load the target image into the program, zoom in with the controls, and then click on the center of the holes. The program automatically calculates group size, displaying measurements in both inches and minutes of angle (MOA)

Original Target (with ruler for scale)

Target Captured and Displayed in Program

Detail of Group, Enlarged by Program

10-shot Groups? — No Problem
Here’s another target, showing 6mm bullet holes at 600 yards. The first image shows the target image loaded into the program with the ten holes circled in red.

Target Displayed in Program

For this target we have used the Aiming Point option. The Aim Point was set at the center of the “X” and the program calculates average distance from the Aim Point. Very cool.

Detail of 10-Shot Group, Enlarged by Program

No Scanner Needed
The OnTarget program grabs target scans directly from a flatbed scanner using Microsoft’s Windows Image Acquisition system. But don’t worry if you don’t have a scanner. You can just take a digital photo of your target and OnTarget will import it quickly and easily. To set target scale, a simple tool allows you to mark a known length on the target (such as the diameter of the “X” Ring), and the program will then size the target accordingly.

Bottom Line — Great Program, Download It Today
Jeffrey Block has done a great service for shooters by creating the FREE OnTarget program. It is easy to learn, it functions great, and it can save you time and effort measuring targets. It also lets you easily archive and compare multiple targets produced during load development or rifle testing. You can record ammo type, date, location, weather etc. in note fields accessed by “Group Info” and “Target Info” tabs.

Keep in mind that OnTarget was NOT created to replace existing methods for scoring competition targets. But for all other target measuring purposes it does a great job. You should visit Jeff’s website, OnTargetShooting.com, view the tutorial, and check out OnTarget for yourselves.

Hoppe Offers Dasher Tuning Tips

The 6mm Dasher is based on the 6mm BR cartridge with the shoulder blown forward about 0.100″ and “improved” to 40°. Case capacity is raised to about 41.0 grains. This allows the Dasher to drive 105-108gr bullets comfortably at 2970-3000 fps without over-stressing the brass.

Robert Hoppe is one of the top 600-yard shooters in the country. Last fall, shooting a 6 Dasher, Robert nailed a 0.5823″, 5-shot group. At the time it was the smallest group ever shot in 600-yard registered benchrest competition. Just last weekend, John Lewis shot even smaller with an IBS Heavy Gun, but Robert’s 0.5823″ still remains the NBRSA 600-yard record, and the smallest group ever shot at 600 by a 17-lb class rifle. Robert has been very successful in the 600-yard game, and he finished 5th recently at the NBRSA 600-yard competition. He knows how to wring the best accuracy out of the 6mm Dasher cartridge. Here Robert offers some tips on load development and tuning for the 6mm Dasher.

CLICK HERE to watch HOPPE VIDEO

30th Annual Bianchi Cup May 21-24

The 30th Annual NRA National Action Pistol Championship, also known as the NRA Bianchi Cup, will be held in Columbia, Missouri, May 21 to 24. Over 200 of the world’s top pistoleros will compete at the Green Valley RPC’s Chapman Academy Range. Tens of thousands of dollars in cash and prizes will be awarded, making the Bianchi Cup one of the richest shooting sports events.

CLICK HERE for On-line Bianchi Cup Entry Form

The event originated in 1979 as a Law Enforcement Training match. The “founding father” was holster maker (and former police officer) John Bianchi. Since its inception, the NRA Bianchi Cup has retained its original, 4-event course of fire:

The Practical Event: From the appropriate shooting line, the shooter fires at distances from 10 yards to 50 yards under varying time limits.

The Barricade Event: From within shooting boxes and behind barricades, a shooter fires at targets on either side of the barricade at different distances and under varying time limits.

The Falling Plate Event: From the appropriate shooting line, the shooter fires at 8 inch round steel plates arranged in banks of six at distances from 10 to 25 yards under varying time limits.

The Moving Target Event: From within shooting boxes at distances ranging from 10 to 25 yards, the shooter fires at a target moving from left to right with the target being exposed for only 6 seconds.

Scoring
Speed and accuracy is the key to winning the Championship. Each event is timed and is worth 480 points, equaling a total of 1920 possible points.

For more info about the Bianchi Cup and Action Pistol events, contact Tom Hughes at bianchicup@nrahq.org or (800) 672-3888, extension 1478. Bianchi Cup revolver photo courtesy J.C. Blauvelt Gunsmith.

NRA Event Calendar Available Online

In addition to the events listed in AccurateShooter.com’s Event Calendar, the NRA maintains an online calendar of important matches and tournaments around the county. Click here to access the NRA Calendar and download registration forms for major events. The NRA Calendar includes National championships, State Championships, NRA Sectionals, and NRA Regionals. Disciplines covered include High Power Rifle, High Power Long Range, Smallbore Rifle, Black Powder Target Rifle, Air Rifle and Air Pistol, and Silhouette events for High Power Rifle, Smallbore Rifle, Black Powder Cartridge, Lever Action, and Air Rifle and Air Pistol.

Davis Sets New 600-Yard IBS Record

This past weekend, Mike Davis set a new 600-yard, IBS score record of 50-2X (0.941″), shooting a 6 BRX that he built himself. Mike nailed the record at the Piedmont Gun Club using Danzac-coated Berger 105gr VLD bullets pushed by 33.5 grains of Varget and CCI 450s. His rifle had a 26″, 1:8.4″-twist Brux barrel, chambered for a no-turn 6 BRX, and a BAT RB/LP/RE action. Congrats to Mike on some great shooting. If you want to see how it was done, here’s a video of Mike shooting 5 rounds at “match pace” with his 6 BRX.

CLICK HERE to WATCH VIDEO (5 Shots in 18 Seconds)

A previous IBS score record was set by Larry Isenhour, also at Piedmont. In August 2007, Isenhour shot a beautiful 50-3X target but it was just slightly larger in group size — 0.944″ as certified. Because group size, not X-count, is the tie-breaker among equal “perfect” 50 scores, Mike Davis just grabbed the record by a few thousandths of an inch.

Mike offers this report: “Saturday, April 12, 2008, was Piedmont Gun Club’s second match of the year. Conditions looked grim. There was lightning in the distance and we were surrounded by black clouds. When the first shot went down range the wind was blowing pretty good. As the day progressed the wind worsened, and was switching terribly. I could tell by the end of the Heavy Gun class that the faster I could get all shots down range the better. I really concentrated on my aiming point, and trying to remain smooth and fast for Light Gun. The first target I shot in Light Gun class was the record target, 50-2X with a .941″ group. The two “X” shots were right on top of each other (see target). I had also cleaned the gun prior to this group. The second target had four shots under 1″ and the fifth shot went straight right approximately 3.5″, making this group a 4″ — I knew I had gotten caught in one of the switching wind conditions. I repeated the same steps for the remaining two targets, and it paid off. I won the Light Gun class for group with a 3″ Aggregate in wind that toppled over the wind flags and blew away our Easy-Up tent.”

Gun Specifications 6BRX no turn neck .112″ free bore BAT Model B RB/LP/RE 7.5″ round action, Jewell trigger HV BRUX barrel 1 in 8.4″ twist at 26″ in length Stock work and bedding by Mike Isenhour (cedar/curly maple/carbon fiber with weight system) Leupold 45x Competition w/a 3x Gene Davis optical booster mounted with BAT rings Farley front rest and a Protektor rear bag

Steel Challenge on Outdoor Channel Today

Michael Bane’s Shooting Gallery broadcasts highlights from the 2007 Steel Challenge today on the Outdoor Channel. The Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championships were founded in 1981 with 70 shooters competing for $20,000 in cash and prizes that first year. In the 26 years since, the match has grown to become one of the crown jewels of the shooting circuit and the premier professional pistol competition with more than 220 of the world’s fastest shooters competing for over $390,000 in cash and prizes in 2007. The 2007 event featured the Outdoor Channel/Sig Sauer 80-Second Challenge. The first shooter to break 80 seconds overall time on the 8-stage Steel Challenge course, the equivalent of the 4-minute mile, could take home a check for $30,000. The show airs April 16, 2008 at 8:00 pm Eastern time on the Outdoor Channel.

European Steel Challenge May 2-4 in Netherlands
In related news, the 2008 European Steel Challenge will be held May 2-4 at Winterswik, the Netherlands. Over 150 of Europe’s best competition pistol shooters will compete for the European Speed Shooting Championships and €25,000 Euros in prizes. Championships will be determined in the Women’s, Senior, Super Senior divisions and in several categories including Rimfire, Stock and Open class Pistol/Revolver — the Formula 1 category of the shooting sports. For more info, visit www.EuropeanSteelChallenge.nl, or contact Hans Wigger, firearms [at] firearms.nl .

Williamsport Hosts 1K Benchrest School

From May 9-11, the Original Pennsylvania 1000 Yard club will host the nation’s first multi-day long-range benchrest school at its Williamsport range. For $200, up to 24 “students” will enjoy one night and two days of intensive training under the tutelage of some of the nations’ top 1000-yard shooters. On Friday night, May 9th, students will meet their mentors, including school director Frank Grappone, and will work on informal “homework” assignments.

Saturday morning, the class moves to the range for a full day of hands-on technical training. Topics will include precision reloading, load development, gun handling, use of chronograph, analysis of shooting results, gun cleaning, and target analysis. The Williamsport Club will provide the rifles, plus all reloading components–powder, primers, and bullets. Saturday’s training sessions are followed by a steak dinner, including in the $200 seminar price.

On Sunday, after an early training session covering bench set-up and match strategies, students will participate in a 1000-yard match, spending time both behind the trigger and in the pits. Instructors will explain how to read conditions, and will demonstrate target measuring and analysis after the relays. The program will wrap up before 4:00 pm on Sunday.

The 1000-yard Benchrest School is limited to 24 students. Gunsmiths Bruce Baer and Mark King, and many Williamsport Hall of Fame shooters will provide instruction. There should be no more than three students per advisor. Over the course of the weekend, trainees will receive 14-16 hours of quality “hands-on” instruction, plus actual match shooting time. This program is design for novice to intermediate shooters. For more information, contact School Director Frank Grappone, (517) 796-9622, frankgrappone [@] sbcglobal.net. Act soon, if you’re interested. Only a dozen or so slots are still available, and the sign-up deadline is May 1st.

Savage Factory Gun Wins Hickory Shoot. Savage 6mmBR Ships This Week.

600-yard World-Record-holder Terry Brady gave us a call this morning and reported: “You may not believe it, but a factory Savage won it all this year at the Hickory Groundhog Shoot.” Terry said it was raining through much of the event, and many of the custom rifle shooters had tight groups but were not centered up on the target. This is a score event, with concentric scoring rings on cardboard groundhog silhouette targets at 100, 300 and 500 yards. The overall match winner shot a Savage factory.223 Rem varminter, according to Terry. “A couple of them Savage guys had their groups nicely centered up on the targets, and that’s what it took to win.”

In related news, the Savage factory 6mmBR rifles will start shipping this week. The 6mmBR chambering is now offered in three versions: F-Class, Varmint single-shot, and Varmint repeater (with box magazine). The 6BR F-Class model is a right bolt, right port single-shot weighing 13.3 lbs without optics. It features an 8-twist 30″ barrel and a heavy, laminated wood stock with a flat buttstock toe that runs parallel to the underside of 3″-wide forearm. The Long-Range Precision Varminter (LRPV) has a 12-twist, 26″ barrel, and a synthetic, H-S Precision stock with alloy bedding system. The LRPV is offered as BOTH a right bolt, left port single-shot, AND as a right bolt, right port repeater.

2008 Eastern CMP Games and Creedmoor Cup Matches

The 2008 Eastern CMP Games and Creedmoor Cup Matches will be held from May 3rd through May 11th at Camp Butner in Stem, NC. The CMP Games for Garands, Springfields and vintage military rifles run from 3-6 May. Following that, Service Rifle and Highpower shooters will compete in the Creedmoor Cup Matches from May 7th through 11th. Creedmoor Cup events include an advanced clinic, followed by a Practice Match, a Long Range Match, the 80-shot Creedmoor Cup Match and a team match.

Both events feature special hospitality events and prize awards. All interested shooters, whether new shooters or experienced competitors, recreation-oriented shooters or national championship contenders, are invited to participate in these unique, national-level competitions. For more info, contact Laurie Mandell, (419) 635-2141 x1107.

CLICK HERE for CMP Games/Creedmoor Cup INFO Page.

Latest Smack the Smiley Postal Match Underway

Our own 1000-yard Editor, Jason Baney, runs a popular “postal match” called “Smack the Smiley”. Four times a year (Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter) you can shoot an official target at your own range, and then submit it for judging. Over $2000.00 in prizes will be awarded for each 2008 seasonal match. You can compete with shooters from across the continent.

Jason started the Smiley matches in 2004. Since 2005, a share of monies collected from entry fees have been donated to American military marksmen via AmericanSnipers.org. These donations have totaled over $3000.00.

Entries are now open for the current Spring Match. Order your targets no later than May 5, 2008. Your finished Spring targets must be returned (postmarked) by May 27, 2008. Targets will be scored and ranked on shooting forums including SnipersHide.com, West Coast Tactical, SnipersParadise, and the main contest site, SmackTheSmiley.com

Prizes for Smack the Smiley Shooters
Prizes donated by manufacturers are raffled off, lottery-style, after each match. This means that every participant has a chance at wining. The prizelist totals over $2000.00 in value this year. You’re smart to shoot all four seasonal matches (Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter). A four-match Aggregate will be tallied this year with a possible prize for the Agg winner.

CLICK HERE for Smack The Smiley 4-Season Match Calendar

Smack The Smiley Postal Match Rules

● There are two classes, rimfire and centerfire, with no other rifle restrictions. Rimfire guns shoot at 50 yards, while centerfire rifles shoot at 100 yards.

● All rifles must be shot from the ground, either sitting or prone position, with NO tripod rests allowed. Only bipods or other field expedient rests are allowed.

● You must shoot official targets only, ordered from SmackTheSmiley.com. These cost $3.50 each with a max of 4 targets per class. One dollar ($1) from each target goes to Americansnipers.org.