In this issue: Riser blocks Lactic acid and hypoxia Riser blocks Rifle cleaning New postal match What's your most important piece of equipment? ****************************************************** Regarding riser blocks for the sights in the standing position. I love to put riser blocks on the sights of my standard rifle and my air rifle, and raise the cheek piece accordingly. However, before you buy the riser blocks, read 1996 N.R.A. International Rifle Rules, page 10, Figure 2 / International Shooting Union Specifications / Air Rifles - Smallbore and Bigbore Standard Rifle / Maximum Measurements for Dimensions C, D, E, F, and J from Centerline of Barrel C. Height of center of front sight ring or top of post......40 mm (1.58 inches) and don't overdo the riser block height! - Raoul B. Salem [Ed note - Raoul brings up a good point in that you should know all the applicable rules for your discipline. My sight blocks give me a dimension of 39-39.5 mm and my air rifle weighs 30 grams under the limit - probably 50 now since I removed 2 spacers today.] ******************************************************** Coaching note: · Question: Why does “lactic acid” disrupt the shooting position ? Answer: The physiology of the body accepts the condition of stress which will cause hypoxia and of course the physical aiming and firing produces a static drain on muscles through the build up of lactic acid. The problem is with the functional nature of the physical elements involved with the oxygen and blood properties. Stored glycogen, synthesized from blood glucose generates the end product of lactic acid. No oxygen is needed for this purpose, but a small portion of muscle power is produced, and the lactic acid is exposed to oxygen it is reconverted into glycogen. Sustained shooting effort demands a ready supply of oxygen for the prevention of lactic acid build up in the muscle fiber. The build up of lactic acid in muscle fiber causes fatigue and is cumulative in its nature. · Question: How does a shooter cope with excessive lactic acid ? Answer: The shooter's counter action to lactic acid build up is to reduce the muscle exertion through the reductions of stress and tensions during the shooting process. It is therefore, during the 3/4 of a second that the lungs will not supply oxygen rich blood to the muscle elements. The results is lactic acid build up will occur during this 3/4 of a second and for the total the 1 minute and 20 seconds of the competition. The World Class shooter trains to reduce the heart beat to 50-80 beats per minute as opposed to 80-120 beats per minute for the normal physical athlete. Another side of the physical functions is the action of hypoxia caused by decreased oxygen levels resulting in higher occurrences of apnea. Apnea gradually decreases oxygen levels in the muscle fiber which results from holding the breath for long periods. Hypoxia effects the smooth muscles such as the ciliary muscles of the eye. Excessive hypoxia reduces the eyes ability to recover after exertions and during mental accommodation control functions. Accommodation reflex allows the eye to focus on the front sight of the athlete's weapon. · Question: How does Hypoxia effect the physical shooter ? Answer: Any athlete suffering from a case of hypoxia will experience loss of muscle controls, mental control functions, eye accommodation, and excessive level of lactic acid in the muscle fiber. Typically eye problems such as double vision, inability to focus, blurry vision caused by a general deterioration of controls by the eye muscles and their respective ability to accommodate or adjust under control of the mental entity. Lactic acid will cause general muscle fatigue. Questions ? Chet Skinner **************************************************** > Bill Ernest at ESP, 23 Turnhill Lane, Levittown, PA 19054, tel: 215 943-2145 > has an excellent selection of riser block for Anschutz and FWB 601/602. The > Anschutz block come in 8mm & 11mm which are lower and higher than the > Anschutz standard 10mm. The FWB riser blocks come in thin adapter, 8mm & > 11mm which are also conversion block for replacing the FWB sights with > Anschutz sights. The FWB blocks are now being used by the US Air Force > Shooting Team with Anschutz sights on their FWB 601-602. Ernest also has > excellent two step from sight blocks for prone shooters and higher scope > sight block in a variety of heights for NRA Prone. I have ordered some small items from Bill Ernest (bipods, etc) and was very pleased with the quality, price, and shipping time. He also did a custom job for me - a riser for my silhouette scope - that is most excellent. I sent him my print, he called to suggest an improvement, and the riser was built just as we agreed to, at a fair price and looking sharp! Paula Lambertz FERMILAB Batavia IL Not speaking for FNAL. ************************************************** Coaches and Shooters, What might seem to be a question that has been asked a thousand times before, and no doubt answered two thousand times, I'll ask again, just how often is a smallbore rifle cleaned? At this time I only shoot the A-17 target (fat) because in my area (Eastern PA) its about the only smallbore around. Myself and other shooters consume approximately 2300 to 2700 rounds a season (Nov - Apr). Now back to the question, I've been told by some very competitive shooters (390X400 to 397X400) that they clean their rifle after every match or they don't clean it until accuracy is affected. New shooters will hear mis-information one way or another so I thought that I would pose this question to UIT coaches and shooters. After all, higher scores is what everyone is after. I hope that the information you provide will once in for all give some of us a direction as far as equipment is concerned. I appreciate any time that anyone spends on this question. DIXON R. BOYLES [Ed note - well, my response is the same that you've already received. You should determine how many rounds you can go without cleaning before accuracy starts dropping by benchtesting your rifle periodically. I would only do this if you shoot regularly though. Or you can clean after every (or several) session(s). One advantage to this is you generally inspect other things while you're cleaning so you'll find loose screws, springs, etc. more quickly than in the middle of a big match when your rifle stops working. For the A-17 you probably never have to clean it for accuracy, but I would just to look the gun over anyway.] **************************************************** Another acquaintance of mine has started a postal series. Alexandra Carter, former women's national air pistol champion turned rifle shooter, is running a 3-month postal series every quarter for air rifle, 3P air rifle, air pistol, and 50 feet smallbore. You can reach her at: Alexandra Carter 11601 Silver Spur Circle Dewey, AZ 86327 520-775-6988 There is one under progress now (Sep-Nov) but you can join in late. Michael Ray **************************************************** I would like to hear from the rifle shooters and coaches what you consider your most important piece of equipment. In this case, my definition of "most important" is that which increased your performance after you got it. Aside from new guns, examples could be filters, riser blocks, custom jacket, boots, etc. I'm curious to know what you think has helped your performance the most equipment-wise as this will help me prioritize spending for my team. Michael Ray **************************************************** End of UIT Mailing List #9 Michael Ray - Systems Engineer Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. Rifle Coach The Olympic Shooting Page - http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/1190/ Michael Ray - Systems Engineer Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. Rifle Coach The Olympic Shooting Page - http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/1190/