In this issue: UIT rules for handicapped shooters? Re: Buttplate adjustment for 3P Bruises in prone "Tune-able" Bloop tubes Match preparation - bring back up guns ******************************************************************** Cherrie Pinpin sirena@pacific.net.sg Mid-80's, ex-National Team member, Air Rifle Philippine Shooting Team I am an above-knee amputee and use a prosthetic leg to walk and yes, to shoot (standing, anyway). I've competed with non-disabled shooters in standard matches and with standard equipment, nothing was readapted for me and I think I did pretty well. Still, I'm curious on finding info on how the UIT would consider this particular situation. I also heard of some specific shooting competition for the disabled (sometimes I really don't think I am until I attempt the kneeling stance for small bore 3-position, then I can't kneel properly that way). Anyway, the competition sounds like the Stokes Mandville (or someting like that) competition. Thank you! [Editor - since Cherrie shoots from a normal standing position and doesn't use any special equipment, I am guessing she would be treated like anyone else, from the rules I have read. Could someone please verify this?] ****************************************************************** Ralf Horneber has written a very good book on the subject, an English translation of which was done by Bill Murray. I don't know if anyone's published it in the US. It's available through the British NSRA; it's very up to date, and very good on positional shooting. He coached the Bavarian junior squad with no small success, and so has a good insight into coaching juniors. Apologies if you've heard of it already. I'll look again, but I don't think it's got an ISBN number. General observation on juniors shooting PSK, and an egg-sucking comment; watch out for back injury. Kids break easy, and a 1912 is heavy. Only do short duration matches, maybe training with an air rifle, and consider a light fitness / flexibility regime to get fitter/stronger/flexible back and abdominal muscles. Worth it in the long run :-) To back this up, I know two Scottish female PSK shooters who needed physio support for back problems during the recent Commonwealth Championships, and they're shooting <6 Kg rifles (Anschutz lightweight barrel out of a System Gemini Sport Rifle stock). (Personal) Observations on Standing : ------------------------------------------------------ Keep your head head vertical left-to-right, and bring the rifle to the head, not vice versa. Use cant as necessary to get the eyes to the sights without tilting the head sideways, but tilting the head forward slightly is fine. The buttplate will be quite low on the butt. Avoid any position that requires lots of lower back bend; if you're pointing it at the floor because the buttplate is low, use a palm shelf to raise the front of the rifle, rather than trying to lean back. This goes for people with short forearms, too... Don't worry about "even distribution of the weight on each foot"; Vassila Letcheva (Bulgarian World Record holder) shoots with her left (forward) leg straight and her back leg relaxed and bent visibly at the knee. Just make sure you're balanced, with relaxed legs. (Personal) Observations on Kneeling : ------------------------------------------------------ Try balancing the position so that the rifle passes over the elbow, sits on the knee sits over the instep ! (You might end up with a funny backwards twist to your left arm getting to this). Just an idea. Another suggestion is to try balancing your torso, and all its associated weight, further back over the heel and kneeling roll; if you're not using back and abdominal muscles to hold yourself upright, your position will obviously last longer, and be more stable. An associated advantage is that if you're not so far forward, you're giving your chest / lungs / stomach more room to breathe, and less pressure to pulse against. You'll find that having an emptier kneeling roll will lower your torso (and shoulders) meaning that the rifle can get closer vertically to the left knee and still be horizontal. Your sling will then need lengthening, and handstop moving forward - but luckily there's no 30-degree rule in kneeling. Closer vertically means that for a given rotation angle left-to-right about the elbow on the knee, there's less total movement left-to-right (less pulse !) Martin Sinclair ****************************************************************** Dear Michael, I get the bruises that an earlier writer wrote about. I would not really call them though bruises. It is more like tiny little blood blisters on my right shoulder. I have also gotten them on the back of my left arm where my sling wraps around my arm. I think that my position is rather good, and I don't think the position is overly "tight". In my case it seems to be the way my body reacts to the use of the equipment. I am very prone to bruising so it always seemed natural to me. The bruises only last for a few hours, and cause no pain. I have seen friends with the same condition after shooting prone for extended periods of time. I get them whenever I shoot. I hope this will help to clarify this issue. Good Shooting, Douglas Johnston ****************************************************************** Hi, I just got a flyer from T2 stocks in the mail. They have this bloop tube/ tuner combo for a measly $225 (!). Has anyone seen this thing? Possibly used it? Also how do these barrel tuner gadjets work? Do they have any impact on accuracy? All comments apreciated! THanks and have fuN! [Editor - I just saw a tuning bloop tube Friday at Ohio State for our conference championship. I couldn't really tell how it accomplished its task, but the concept at least is to find the ideal resonant frequency of your barrel/ammo combination. This is the same reason your accuracy may be affected when you move concentric barrels weights or if you torque your action screws differently. Anyway, my opinion is that it isn't worth the money unless you are already close to outshooting your gun.] ****************************************************************** We held our Regional Sectional for Air Pistol a week ago and something happened to two of our competitors that deserves comment. These two shooters were using the new SCUBA type airpistols for match competition. (Most everyone was using some sort of "gas" gun except for five holdouts with spring guns.) These two individuals had some sort of leak and the pistols locked up. Nothing could be done apparently. But by good foresight they has brought their old backup airguns along (FWB 65's) and were able to continue in the match. How many of us rely on our primary airgun to always be there at all times? I have, I'll tell you. But from now on I will bring my back up. These two competitors had driven over 150 miles to shoot--but at least they were able to. Russ Saunders, Presidio Gun Club of San Francisco [Editor - I find it odd 2 different guns had the same problem at the same time. Was this the first time these guys had problems with their SCUBA guns? All I have heard up to know was that they were pretty reliable. Anyway, this is sound advice regardless. Would everyone here be prepared if they had a mechanical failure?] ****************************************************************** End of UIT Mailing List #16 Michael Ray - Systems Engineer Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. Rifle Coach UIT Shooting Page - http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/1190/index.htm