I have been shooting in the European F-Class Championship for a while now. You can read a full report of the 2016 competition here.
My first experience of F-Class shooting was at the Europeans. I found myself shooting with competitors from all over Europe, with people from Ukraine in the East to Spain in the West, from Ireland in the North to Italy in the South. I was hooked and have returned most years to try my luck again. Mainly because it was fun, and also because everyone was so friendly.
No doubt about how far this competitor has traveled!
This is not a report on the event – the link above will give you that. But I found myself thinking why do I do this, when my chances of winning are remote, and getting even halfway up the results board is a real achievement for me.
One reason is that I get to mix with some really interesting people. I also get to see the latest equipment and there is always something new to see on the shooting line. And I always go away having learned something.
Michael Dell of the eponymous computer company said never be the smartest person in the room. And with good reason, since you will never learn anything new. In the same way, shooting against the best riflemen in Europe does nothing for my ego, but I always go away knowing more than I did at the start.
This year for example, I discovered that a loose scope rail induces vertical stringing. Unfortunately I learned this by it happening to me – I prefer to learn from other people’s mistakes! It taught me to check the rail, the rings, everything, is tight before the competition. Yes, I knew this before, but now I am actually going to do it.
And there is always that one perfect shoot. For me it was a couple of years ago, at 800 yards. Everything went right. 15 shots at minute of angle, and 11 of them at half a minute. I went up to the results board, started at the bottom, and finally found my name at the top. It has never happened since, but I have the medal in a frame on my wall to remind me I can do it. And maybe it will never happen again, but it could – and that keeps me shooting.
It is also a good time to enjoy spending a few days living at Bisley Camp. You are surrounded by over a century of shooting history, and often do not get to appreciate it if you just commute to the range. Some of the buildings were moved to Bisley from the original range complex in Wimbledon, including this one which was re-assembled inside out before anyone noticed:
The Range Office, a long-standing feature of the Camp, has two steel running deer, from a long-abandoned running deer range, in pride of place outside it. You can see one at the right hand corner of the picture below
The Exhibition Hut is also a well-known landmark, and is in the process of being re-developed as retail space, while still retaining its traditional look.
There is little more inspiring than standing at the 1,000 yard firing point looking downrange on a beautiful day.
And yes, the scope wraps did make a difference!
