In this issue: Sydney ranges update Re: Brno TAU-7 prices Review of "Sucessful Pistol Shooting" World Masters Games - 1998 Re: trigger control Re: Youngest Olympic shooting medalist? Re: trigger control Need info for a new range ******************************************************************* NEWS FLASH The Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) yesterday announced that the Olympic Shooting Complex would be moved from Holsworthy to Cecil Park, 23 km south-west of the centre of Sydney. The centre will house all necessary ranges for the Olympics. The Olmypics Minister has guaranteed that a 300m UIT range would also be constructed, if approved by the Federal Government. The Federal Minister for Sport yesterday approved the construction of such a range. A number of problems still remain, however. Firstly, the area selected is close to residential areas, and there is the problem of future noise complaints against the range. Secondly, the question of training for non-Olympic/World Championship events has not been addressed, and despite the fact that the State Government had promised to construct an Stage Two Range comprising a 1000 yard range, a 500 yard range and an expanded 300 metre range, the site chosen could not accommodate these. The only available site is the Anzac Rifle Range, on the Sydney coast. That site remains subject to a legal battle, due to return to the courts on 20 May, 1997, if not sooner resolved by agreement. The new shooting complex at Cecil Park will open in March 1999. More information is available on the Olympic home page available throug the NSW Government Home Pages: http://www.nsw.gov.au ******************************************************************* Micheal, I just bought "Successful Pistol Shooting" and start to read it. After reading (3-4 weeks), I may have some comments about it. As for TAU-7, expect to pay $320 -370. It is an excellent air pistol and due to strong demand, it is quite hard to obtain (I waited several months to get one). I bought from Great Lake Airguns ((716)-648-6666). If Mac is interested, I can sell him my TAU-7, it is the newest version and almost brand new. Although I am a pistol shooter, I always enjoy your post. George Chiu ******************************************************************* [Ed. note - The following review of "Successful Pistol Shooting" is courtesy of Don Williams, President of International Shooting Coaches Association. I have paraphrased some of what he mailed me to take less space.] "I found [Bob Hickey and Art Sievers'] new book to be of great interest, and it is a valuable tool for shooters and coaches, not only in the pistol shooting arena, but in all types of shooting in general." The writers stress simplicity in their instruction of pistol shooters.... They have had very young boys and girls who have performed much higher than expected, often breaking national records in the process. Their entire program can be summed up in a few words: Shooting is lining up the barrel with the eye, pointing it at the area we want the bullet hole to appear, and moving the trigger finger smoothly to cause the bullet hole to appear. [Ed. note - seems too simple doesn't it. But it is true. The only thing that causes a hole to appear in a certain place is because that is where the barrel was pointed when it went the shot went off (discounting wind, etc. of course).] The first chapter is "Head Start - How to Successfully Shoot a Pistol - It's Easier Than You Thought", which outlines the system they use and stressing the above facts. Chapter two opens up by saying that this is a do-it-yourself book, because only you can teach you how to shoot. Chapter three starts to lay down their ideas and procedures for instructing people on shooting. Later chapters go into competitive shooting, coaching the mind, mental training, psychology, and the conditional reflex. "I did find this book to be very good, but it was a little distracting at times, too. For instance, the proofing was not done very well." This may be due to the printer being late getting the already overdue book to press. "I also thought at times the repeating over and over again of the basic ideas and philosophy was a little tiring, but it helped to reinforce the idea. All in all I would give the book an A for ideas and aid and a B or C for overall quality of printing, etc. There are a lot of charts, drawings and photos to help with the instruction provided." ******************************************************************* I don't know how many of you have heard of the World Masters Games, but it is an every 4-year event that contests 25 different sports. Of this number, 15 are core sports and the hosting city can choose 10 others from a long list of sports to come up with 25 total. Shooting is one of the 15 core sports, and the Portland, OR area won the bidding to host the 1998 WMG. It was planned, originally, to have these events: Rifle: fullbore 3-pos., fullbore prone from 200 to 1000 yards, and the NRA NMC for those who do not shoot UIT; smallbore was to be UIT prone and 3-pos., air rifle, and a conventional 3200 or 1600 prone. Pistol: all the UIT events plus an NRA 2700/NMC. In shotgun, skeet and trap, along with sporting clays both US and UIT events. What was finally decided by the organizing committee was: Smallbore-60-shots prone and 3-pos., all at 50-yards/meters and air rifle. Pistol got what they asked for, and it looks like only sporting clays for shotgun. Fullbore was only the 200-1000 yard prone and fullbore 3-pos. The Games will be held in August 1998, by the way. I have heard through the grapevine that the shooting program is in big trouble. It is not that the host clubs do not want to host the events, it is that the organizing committee is being unrealistic with their contracts and demands on how the events should be run. From what I hear, I may not want to compete, although I have already sent in my entry, and if what I hear is true, then I will be putting out the word to all my contacts around the world to stay away and not come to shoot. If things work out later, then I will not be so negative in my remarks. However, I still am not happy, even if the events are improved, because of the way I was treated by the committee. I am one of the few in the entire region who has competed in two previous WMG - Denmark and Brisbane, Australia - and I was the one who recommended or brought it up at a sports meeting, that Portland bid for the Games in the first place. I was the one who set up the planning group for shooting in the first place and chaired all the preliminary meetings. I went, at my own expense, to the World Cup and Olympics to work and gain experience, in 1996. And what did I get for all this time and expense, the awarding of the Commissioner and Match Directors jobs to others who had no idea what was going on. I was totally aced out. I will be helping the pistol group with scoring the air pistol targets, and competing in smallbore/air rifle, but that is about it. That is, if the two groups can get together on details and get the shooting portion of the program off the ground. I will attempt to keep people informed as things move along. By the way, the lower age to compete in the shooting events is 35 and people will be grouped by age rather than skill level. It is anticipated that 25,000 athletes will take part. That is more than in the Olympics, folks!! Later, Don Williams. ******************************************************************** For Jaro, Your hypothses is 80% correct. However taken from a physical standpoint, the timing is correct and from the psychology standpoint the timing is incorrect. Research has proven that (and this applies to all precision shooting(shotgun, pistol and Rifle)) the shot must be taken within the first two seconds or less of the firing sequences. Experience shows that the trigger is pulled within the 3/4 of a second to a point of 1 and 1/2 seconds of reaching position and sight alignment. The human cognitive system is designed to operate on the 1/2 to 3/4 of a second time frame. Anything thereafter is within the deterioration phase and therefore the longer (5 to 6 seconds or longer) the hold in position without firing the greater the deterioration in hold and the shooters ability to hit the center of the bull upon firing. The shooter common senses acknowledges the rapid loss of shooting position and attempt to snatch or jerk a shot before the position is totally destroyed. The shooter must look at it this way. The first two seconds is a bull 10. Every 1/10 of a second thereafter is less than the 10. Then a score of 9, then 8, then 7 and so on. As the shooting position deteriates, the muscle system is activated to maintain the shooting position and when this happens the shooter will find the cognitive abilities deteriating as the mental can not overcome the muscle tensions and stressses required to overcome the position deterioration. The tension and stress in muscles causes lactic acid to be generated further causing muscle calamity. Lactic acid can be eliminated with intake of new oxygen. And, the shooter has stopped the breathing cycle until the shot is fired(5 to 10 seconds or longer for non mental shooters) and this is time that the shooter does not correct the lactic acid unballance or elimination of waste gases from the system with breathing. So now you can see the problem the shooter has with excessive hold in position for each shot and incorrect timing of the shot. Questions...? Good Shooting Chet Skinner, Coach Email: meecin@tnproweb.com Page: http://www.tnproweb.com/chet/chet.htm ****************************************************************** Hi Michael, I can confirm information from Jaro refer to Konstantin Lukashik from Belarus. Konstantin Lukashik was born September 18, 1975 in Brodno (source - Bulletin UIT World Cup Finalī96 page 30). Regards, Peter [Ed. note - I have updated my page to reflect this new info. Thank you US media - NOT!] ******************************************************************** Regarding Trigger Control from the physiological (sports medicine) standpoint, there is an excellent three part article on the subject of Precision Shooting with the Sport Pistol, Air Pistol and Free Pistol in Volume 4/96, 5/96, & 6/96 of the UIT JOURNAL (which you all should subscribe to if you are part of the wonderful world of International Shooting Sport). The current cost is a special of 95 DM for 2 years. I received a nice letter today from Brigitte Schreiber (UIT Secretariat) stating that in the not too distant future, UIT will be able to accept credit card numbers to charge the price of the UIT Journal. UIT address is: UIT, Bavariaring 21, D-80336, Munchen, Germany. Until then a US $ equivalent check or a DM draft can be used. Russ Saunders, (Free & Air) Presidio Gun Club San Francisco [Ed. note - I agree. While it pertains more to pistol, I have found these articles interesting.] ******************************************************************** Now some questions from the editor again. Our private college is putting in a new range this summer for our rifle team, and I have a few questions for the US subscribers: 1. What type of ventilation system is required by law or gov't regulation for a private .22 range? Our old range was closed by the Army (since it was their range) for a period in 1976 for excessive lead levels and I don't want anything like that to happen again. 2a. If a vent system IS required, are there varying sizes for different types of ammo shot or is it just a constant FPM airflow no matter what? 2b. If a vent system IS required, does it require special filtering for .22 LR or just the required airflow? What if I allowed handguns? 3. Are ceiling baffles required by law or gov't regulation? The range is under precast concrete bleachers and will be totally enclosed by concrete block walls. 4. What type of trap do you recommend for the least amount of upkeep and environmental hassle? My choices are very limited in that I have only 3 feet of depth for a trap so it must either be a venetian blind style or a rubber/composite style. I am leaning toward Caswell's GranTrap. While we need to keep cost at a minimum, I want to insure we won't be shut down because of something we didn't install. ********************************************************************* End of UIT Mailing List #26 Michael Ray - Systems Engineer Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. Rifle Coach UIT Shooting Page - http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/1190/index.htm