Please e-mail address changes, unsubscribe requests, or submissions to me.

In this issue:

CMP FWB P-70
Smallbore Ranges in Houston?
Re: Ranges in NE US?
Re: Ranges in NE US?
Re: Bloop tube effectiveness
Stuff for Sale list
Book Evaluations

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Our Junior Club just received 3 of the CMP issued FWB P-70 Junior air rifles 
and this is a very brief preliminary report. As most of you know these rifles 
were specifically designed for juniors and have small stocks and are much 
lighter (approximately 8 lbs total weight) than the full size P-70. However 
they do retain almost all of the other features and at $650 are a real steal! 
The rifles have aluminum air tanks and fill easily like any other SCUBA type 
equipment using the enclosed adapter on your own SCUBA tank or hand pump. The 
stocks are laminated wood and ours arrived with alternating red and natural 
blond colors. The air tank was red with an air brushed black band. The 
appearance was excellent and the fit and workmanship looked as good as the 
full sized versions. The test targets included with each of the guns were as 
good as any I have seen from any other air rifle. (The 5 shot groups averaged 
about .20 inches.)  As our team members range in age from14-17, we will be 
developing lead versions of the optional steel weight accessories (available 
from 3rd party suppliers) so that we can bring the rifles back up to about 10 
pounds for some of our kids. Based on our short relationship with these guns, 
it appears that they are well worth the money. Details on obtaining these 
rifles can be seen on the CMP website.
Best regards,
Phillip Williams

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All,

I moved to Houston TX from England a little under three years ago.  When I
was in England I had taken up smallbore target rifle at a local club and
used to shoot indoor 25 yards.  I shot for maybe 18 months and got up to a
pretty reasonable standard.

My question is really twofold; firstly is this style of shooting commonly
practiced here in the USA?  About the closest I seem to have seen here is
silhouette.  Secondly is there a club in the Houston area that I might join
to continue the sport?

Many thanks,
Jon Sturgeon
JonS@futuresoft.com

[Editor - yes, we shoot international smallbore here, but there are also
many other smallbore disciplines. I would look in the Yellow Pages for all
the ranges or conservation clubs in the area and give them a call.]

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Nashua Fish & Game Association in Nashua, NH (southern NH)
has active international and conventional pistol programs.
See http://www.nfga.org/be/be.html for more info, including
a calendar of pistol events in the Northeast US.

regards,
Dave Suitor
NFGA Pistol Commitee

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In response to the shooter looking for a place to shoot in the Northeast.

A good contact in New York is Chuck Meyer. (518) 399-7092 or 
cmeyer1@nycap.rr.com

Jim 

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While testing in a machine rest I found no difference in group size with 
and without a sight extension tube on the barrel. I cut my Shillen barrel 
down (to reduce weight of rifle) and changed tubes and there was still no 
difference in group size with and without the sight extension tube. 
Removing the sight extension tube did change the point of impact. What does 
this data say about the theory of effects of barrel harmonics in a heavy 22 
RF barrel?

As for the benefits of a sight extension tube I can speak from experience. 
I was having trouble with sudden changes in point of impact and suspected 
my poorly mounted sight extension tube. I took it off for the summer. When 
I went back indoors in the Fall I couldn't get a clear sight picture. The 
black bull was a gray fuzzy cotton ball. I put the sight extension tube on 
and my sight picture cleared up. The benefit is probably related to the 
light conditions and to the shooter's eyes. Some need sight extension 
tubes, others don't. Other benefits commonly experienced are better rifle 
balance and dampening of movement on recoil with the weight at the end of 
the barrel.

The story I heard about Lones Wigger is he was having much trouble seeing 
clearly through iron sights with his older eyes. Because his past success 
without a bloop tube before he was resistant to using one. In 1997 he set a 
new national record at Camp Perry for Prone (6399/6400). The reason for his 
improvement, among other things, was improved vision through the use of a 
sight extension tube. This story was hearsay, so if you question it just 
ask him and you will know.

Nick Priddy

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[Editor - please contact the person listed for each gun. I have a few more
I'm selling also...
3 Anschutz Super Match 54 Free Rifles. Two 1963 and one 1966 vintage.
Original sights, irises, triggers, and butthooks. Inspected by main US
Anschutz gunsmith 7/97. Will also include left-handed stock, spare
triggers, handstops and slings, and a copy of an original manual. Shoot
fine at 50 feet though I would grade them fair condition. May need to cut
and rechamber or recrown barrel if shooting at 50 or 100 yards - selling to
offset purchase of new equipment. $700 each or $2000 for all 3. Michael Ray
812-234-4372 ]

A list of serious competition rifles and accessories known to be available
here 'n' there around the Pacific Northwest.  To get more information,
contact the person listed.  To add or delete items, contact John Crossman,
(253) 588-6516, jcrossman@thurston.com.  Lists published February, May and
October (±).
October 1999 Edition / a

RIFLES

1. Anschütz 1813 free rifle.  Left handed.  Complete with all the usual
accessories, L/H rear sight, front iris, torque wrench, bipod.  Has a new
Hart barrel threaded to action.  $1900.  Bill Ellingson, (253) 537-2053.

2. Anschütz 1810 free rifle.   Right-handed, fair condition.  Mid-'80s
vintage.  Includes sights, rail weight, riser blocks  and all the usual
accessories.  $800 US.  Matt Gervais, (204) 353-2152 (Manitoba, Canada).

3. Anschütz 1913 free rifle.   Right-handed, excellent condition.  Walnut
stock, Schnieder stainless barrel (threaded), riser blocks, rear iris /
filter combo, bipod, 2 cheekpieces, bloop tube and all the usual
accessories.  This gun was shot in the '92 Olympics in Barcelona.  $1800.
Wayne Sorensen, e-mail: sorenw1@investorsgroup.com (Calgary, Alberta, Canada).

4. Walther GX-1 free rifle.  Right handed, very good condition.  With
sights, Lothar Walther cant indicator, sling and all the usual accessories.
$1200.  Can add a Unertl 20X 'scope for $200 more.  Alan Carey, (425)
519-8306, daytime.

5. Feinwerkbau 2000 free rifle.  Right handed.  Excellent condition.
Complete with all the usual adjustable accessories, factory electric trigger
and sights.  Unusual high-gloss green finish on the stock.  $1100.  Marc
Jassky, (612) 472-0514 or 963-0616 (Minneapolis area).

6. Anschütz 1411 prone rifle.  Right handed, very good condition.  Comes
with stainless steel barrel, custom cheek-piece, fore-end stop, iron sights
& plastic apertures.  Glass-bedded.  $900.  John Crossman, (253) 588-6516.

7. Suhl Model 150 standard rifle.  Right handed, very good cond.  With
buttplate, butt hook and 4" barrel extension.  No sights.  $425.  Lance
Bissell, (503) 363-1680.

8. Anschütz 1903 standard rifle.  Right handed, excellent cond, used only 1
year.  With sights.  $850.  Thomas Modine, (503) 393-9024.

9. Marlin Model 2000 beginner rifle.  Right handed, excellent cond.  With
sights and all the usual accessories.  $350.  Bryan Jackson, (360) 240-9797.

10. Feinwerkbau 601 air rifle.  Right handed, excellent condition.  With
sights & some pellets.  $1000 OBO.  Tara Mahoney, (541) 747-7842.

11. Steyr LG-10P air rifle.  Left handed, compressed air, excellent
condition.  With L/H sights and all the usual accessories (manual, tools,
charging adaptor, box).  $1300.  James Pieper, (360) 943-8831.

12. Anschütz 380 air rifle.  Right handed, excellent cond, with sights.
$750.  Rick Parra, (541) 726-6190.

13. Anschütz 2002 air rifle.  Right handed, with match sights.  Recent seal
job.  Color laminated stock.  $1200.  Van Moore, (503) 371-8273.

14. Anschütz 2002 CA air rifle.  Left handed.  Compressed air model.
Excellent condition...used only 1 season.  New after-market buttplate,
colored spacers and blue laminated stock.  $1200.  John & Eric Weil, (503)
622-3815.

15. Walther LGM-2 air rifle.  Right handed, like-new condition.  Pneumatic
action with laminated stock.  With sights and all accessories. $850 OBO.
Jordan Breshears, (509) 468-5146.

16. Walther CG-90 (C02) air rifle.  Right or left handed, with all
accessories (including 10# CO2 cylinder, plastic front apertures, buttplate
spacers, sling swivel).  Excellent condition.  $1200.  Kevin Hutchins, (406)
632-4588 mountain time zone.

17. Walther LGR-Match Universal air rifle.  Right handed, with all
accessories.  Excellent cond, with new seal job and pump unit.  $550.  John
Crossman, (253) 588-6516

18. RWS / Diana Model 100 air rifles (two).  Right handed, very good
condition.  With sights and accessories.  Seals done 2 years ago.  $600 each
or $1050 for both.  Michael Ray, (812) 234-4372 (Indiana)

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Hi Chet,
I agree that shooting is 98% mental, eventually.  The German shooting books
are good at helping establish the position.  However, as the shooter becomes
proficient his need for this type of book decreases and your book comes into
a league of its own.  I know of no other shooting book that details the
mental side of shooting like yours.

Mike.

From: "Chet Skinner" <cskinner@dol.net
To: "Michael"
Subject: Evaluations...
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999

The following analysis of the instructional material is now available to the
potential World Class Athlete.
The name of the analyst was omitted at their request.  The original emessage
is retained.

FROM:  European Shooting Athlete
TO:        Chet Skinner
SENT:    Monday, October 18, 1999 9:07 AM

Chet

Comparing your book "The Mental Art of World Class Competitive Shooting"
(in English) to "Die Technik" (in German) is not easy. The two books both
have
the same purpose; to teach others how to improve their shooting abilities.
I would say both books address  the same problems, but their frame of
reference is totally  different. Most science and research aim to explain
certain phenomena's by modeling these as functions of certain factors. The
dependent variable, in our case shooting performance,  is explained by one
or more independent variables. The magnitude of which the independent
variables influence the dependent variable will vary, and it is not always
possible to decide with a reasonable level of confidence whether an
independent variable actually is influencing the dependent variable.

This is where I see the main difference between the books. You state that
precision shooting is 98 % mental and 2% physical.

Die Technik is based upon viewing precision shooting as a physical process,
and tries to explain shooting performance mainly by physical factors and ter
ms,
mainly the quality of the shooting positions. I think they have done a very
good
job with this part, and Die Technik can be used as a lexicon, as different
aspects of the physical processes are very well discussed. But the
description of the influence of mental processes on a shooters performance
is unfocused. There is no systematic approach to how the athlete should run
his thoughts during the shooting performance. They acknowledge mental
processes as being significant in explaining the dependent variable
(shooting performance), but they have no opinion of the meaning of mental
processes compared to physical aspects. This is why a researcher would not
approve Die Technik as a model for explaining shooting performance, as it
has missed the mental aspect(s) of independent variable(s) to explain the
dependent variable identified as  shooting performance.

The last sentence is of course assuming that your hypothesis,  precision
shooting performance is 98 % mental and 2 % physical is correct.  Although
I have not yet been able to completely confirm nor reject this hypothesis
through consistent performance, I have seen the precision resulting from
the technique during short periods. Thus I am not able to have a clear
opinion
of the magnitude mental Vs physical factors presented to the shooting
athlete.  But there are several reasons that I believe your hypothesis is
correct and that the mental shooting technique is the only way to perfect
performance.

Firstly, the existence of the non-dominant and dominant mental entities has
been confirmed by researchers and scientists. Thus, in my opinion the basis
of your theory
and technique is valid. And as you and several others have performed the
perfect score in all three positions, the mental shooting technique also
has to be viewed as reliable. Secondly, it is easy to understand the
concepts
of the theory by drawing parallels to the daily life of human beings. A lot
of
our actions are performed with such precision that they can not be managed
by the dominant entity, but have to be controlled by a mental entity on a
level beyond the dominant entity.  You have developed a shooting technique
that makes use of this precision instrument, a theory that is directly
applicable to the shooter and their tasks when situated on the firing line,
and all they want is to fire a perfect bullseye.  This is what is genius
about your theory.  Generic books about mental phenomena's in relation to
sports are very difficult to implement in a shooting context,  whereas your
theory is directly linked and applicable to the particular situation that
faces the shooter on the firing line through the mental check list.
Die Technik is better than Pullum/Hanenkrat's book on the physical
technical aspects. But Pullum/Hanenkrat makes reference to something
regarding the
mental aspects, but again the chapters are very diffuse, and offer no
applicable solution facing the shooter at the firing line.
A problem, or better challenge, in relation to the mental check list, is
that the physical positions have to be of a good enough quality, in order
for the athlete to apply the mental check list with consistent results. I
think every physical shooter that starts using the mental technique will
benefit from this in a long perspective, regardless of the initial level of
the shooter. But if the positions are not good enough, the mental technique
will suffer from this and result in varying results. When the attention is
moved from the physical factors to the mental, the physical position might
break down if it's not of sufficient quality. And the gain from applying
the mental timing sequence might be smaller than the loss due to the
marginal
margins of the physical positions in the first place. At least I think this
might be the case in the short term.
This opens for a comment on whether you should include physical aspects in
your book. I think a lot of shooters would benefit from your knowledge on
the positions.  But then again, I understand that you want to focus on the
most significant factors; the mental or shooting psychology.
Die Technik is a good book in itself, when you take into consideration that
it only contains information on one of the factors that determine the
performance level because their frame of reference is incomplete. Yours is
of course less informative on the physical aspect, but is better
nevertheless, as it has identified the most significant challenges facing
the shooter who wants to perform with absolute precision, and also offers
complete solutions to these challenges. We are actually talking of dealing
with the problems at totally different levels,  and The Mental Art of World
Class Competitive Shooting is far above Die Technik.
European Shooting Athlete

Thought you might be interested in the evaluation of three books for ISSF
shooting competitions.

Chet Skinner, Coach
cskinner@dol.net
http://www.geocities.com/colosseum/dome/4512/index.html

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End of UIT Mailing List #6

Michael Ray - Systems Engineer
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. Rifle Coach
UIT Shooting Page - http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/1190/index.htm