December Match Report, Monthly Match
Saturday, December 16, 2023
Pistol Silhouette Range / BASF / Phoenix, AZ
This was our last monthly match of 2023, and because we live in Arizona, we can and do shoot year-round. Being so close to Christmas, we still had 10 shooters in attendance, one of which (David) drove all the way from San Diego to participate.
The reported weather history for the match time frame came from the NWS, and listed temperatures between 70° to 75° with humidity in the mid teen percentile. Winds were listed as coming out of the east to ENE at between 7 and 13mph with gusts up to 22 mph.
Here is a commentary between Larry and Wayne, discussing the match and conditions….
Larry; “This was a Christmas shoot, so most of the targets, with the exception of 3 or 4, were intended to be easier as a gift to the shooters” <ed note: the 3/8” target at 18 yards was a 48 Troyer, with wind; a 60 Troyer!...or so I’ve been told.> “Everyone was told that any tied score placement would be determined by the longest string of hits. Wayne, David, Jesse, and I set the course, under my direction. Fantastic weather, with the exception of the wind.”
Wayne; “Yeah, the weather was windy; maybe 8-10 mph and gusting to 15 until about 1/3 of the way through, then it tapered off.”
Larry; “Beautiful, clear, bright, sun-shiny day. Fantastic temps. The wind was a little brisk and unpredictable at the beginning of the shoot, sometimes gusting up to 8-10 mph out of the ENE. Typical for BASF. After about 30-45 minutes into the shoot, the breezes became calmer, but were shifting from east to west and still enough to push your pellet. I had the wind shift on me 3 times during a single shot execution attempt. Sometimes a home court advantage pays off!”
Joe P; “I’d like to have those first three lanes back. I mighta shot a better score!” <Where’d he come from?>
Wayne; “Yeah, everyone was struggling with the wind. Everyone was bundled up, too.” <ed note: except for Wayne, who was wearing tee shirt and shorts!>
Larry; “In hunter class there were two tied with high score, with the tie being broken by the longest string of hits. Barb missed her very last shot at a close, generous target at 24 yards. A 1” or 1 ¼” killzone, I think.”
Wayne; “It was a good match. Only one target caused a cold line in order to be releveled, cause it wouldn’t go down.”
Larry; “I didn’t hear a single complaint, except for the wind.
Wayne; “Ben brought a can of goodies to share with the group!”
Larry; “Everyone helped tear down the course and it was completed in less than 15 minutes and put back in storage in another 5.”
Wayne; “It was a good match!”
Unfortunately, I could not make the match on Saturday due to other obligations, but having guys like Larry and Wayne taking care of things is a blessing, as is every other member of our club, who pitch in to get done what needs to get done. We still have 2 Tuesday TRAC matches to round out our schedule for the year. The club website will have the 2024 schedule posted just as soon as I can get to it.
Airgunners of Arizona wishes everyone in our Airgun community a Very Merry Christmas, and a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!
Respectfully submitted,
Mark Kauffman
Secretary (in absentsia) Airgunners of Arizona, Inc.