Field Target Club

Wayne

Wayne

We set our usual 12 lane / 48 shot match.  Lane 6 was designated as the standing lane and 1/3 of the targets were set beyond 45 yards.  The lower scores for today attested for the challenging target placement and wind conditions.  Fortunately for us, we had some terrain features in place.  With all the rain that we had in the recent past, a good portion of the range was covered in foot high vegetation.  We took advantage of this in target placement and augmented the rest of the course with strategically placed tree branches that we collected in the past for just this purpose.

13 shooters congregated and competed in 4 classes, which included 3 spring piston shooters.  We also had shooters travel from Nevada and California to shoot with us.  Pat came from North Las Vegas, and David and his wife, Kay, came over from San Diego.  Kay was recruited to be our photographer for the day and took over 40 really good pictures that need to be edited, with the best included in this report.  Here are the scores and equipment stats;

As usual, we are thankful for those who showed up early to help set the course.  This took less than half an hour.  Taking down the targets afterwards took even less time with everyone pitching in.  Thank you to everyone.

Because it is expected to get warmer and stay that way, we had a discussion amongst all present, all club members, and decided to try starting earlier for next month’s match.  Instead of our usual 10:00 start time, we will start at 9:00 to try to beat the heat.  Of course, in June the monthly matches with be held up in the mountains at Mormon Lake and remain there until October before returning to the valley.  For any questions or concerns, we ask that folks traveling to attend the matches to please consult the web site schedule or send an email to request specific times.

After the scores were announced and awards presented, everyone broke camp to head their separate ways, with a few of us heading back to Wild Horse West for burgers.

Also note that in the stats, the tied scores were broken into placement based on the longest string of hits in a row from the lane where each shooter started.

Until next month, take care, be safe, stay healthy, and practice, practice, practice…

Respectfully submitted.

Mark Kauffman

Secretary, Airgunners of Arizona, Inc.

Here is a view looking down the firing line.  With a canopy covering overhead to protect us from rain and shade us from bright sunlight, and a concrete deck underneath, what is not to like?  We have it great for any weather condition!

Dave

Dave and Kay drove over from San Diego (and joined the club).  Kay was our photographer today, but this picture did not do them justice.  Thanks, Kay!

Stephen

Mark

The troops - L-R; Dave, Scott, Ben (hiding), Jake, Scott, Wayne, Stephen, Stanley, Mike, Pat, Wayne, Ed, and Mark

Ed

Scott

Scott

The targets and some of the terrain features.  Note the targets in the back of my SUV are all repainted thanks to Jesse and his wife, Pym, along with quartermaster Wayne.  They gathered this past week to work on the targets and give us a different visual appearance.  Gotta thank them for all their hard work.  Jesse could not shoot due to foot surgery.  Hope you're healing, Jess!

Airgunners of Arizona Monthly match report

Saturday, April 15, 2023 - pistol silhouette range/BASF - Phoenix, AZ

Stanley

Pat

Mike

Ben

Jake

Well, we turned the corner and spring is finally here, although there were days in the past few weeks that felt like we had winter one day and summer the next, based on the extreme temperature ranges and inclement weather.  Today we experienced a cloudless blue sky with temps ranging from 72° up to 79° and wind from zero to 10 mph with the occasional gust.  That happened towards the end of the match, and sent the plastic lane marker cones flying down range.  Although the wind could be deemed mild, it did come at us from every direction.  Initially, we thought we would have a predictable condition with the wind out of the NW, but then it shifted and swung around to the SW, followed by the NE, then about halfway thru the match, it just swirled around us between 6 and 10 mph.  Pick a direction; any direction and that is where it was coming from.  It made an already challenging match even more so.