|
|
Post by Bri M on Apr 1, 2023 7:25:24 GMT
Los Pistoleros ride again!  After much petitioning (well, Steve and Jean asked...) the 2023 Pistol League is going ahead. The rules are unchanged and it's open to all who want to challenge themselves in what is frequently described as the hardest shooting discipline. Our numbers are sadly reduced after Les hung up his pistols but we've still got the usual suspects and they're as keen as ever. This year should also be interesting from a Neuroscientific point of view to see which substance best aids shooting skills as Jean the Naughty Norman seems to function on dangerously experimental strength beer from religious establishments, SteveP boosts his powers with single malt, I run on martinis, Russ is teetotal (weirdo) and Stef is so laid back he probably gets by on osmosis alone. The facial hair factor can't be ignored either. Stef's goatee was long thought to improve his shooting prowess but now we can compare the minimal approach to the maximum with Jean's full beard – which will give the most benefit? Frivolity aside, Gentlemen, chose your weapons and the best of luck to you. |
|
Russ D.
Sharpshooter
Shooting whenever life allows
Posts: 218
|
Post by Russ D. on Apr 2, 2023 12:04:23 GMT
Yes per-lease, now hopefully we can get more folk taking part (regularly) this year and make a really enjoyable competition of it.  Can hardly wait, woohoo!  Thank you Bri for the organising, and Steve and Jean for the general agreement (because I've been eagerly awaiting this comp too) and encouragement. Cheers. Russ |
|
|
|
Post by Bri M on Apr 6, 2023 12:05:47 GMT
Russ put 10 official pellets downrange for an 81. A good start. Steve got some practice rounds in and was getting mid 80s.  Concentrating on practice and getting back to fighting fitness after last year's layoff, he didn't shoot on the record but the signs are promising. Less so for myself as my beloved Baikal IZH-46M "Izzy" has thrown a wobbly and refuses to be be fixed. I'm using my Hammerli 480K2 PCP this year which is technologically more advanced than the "agricultural" Russki but not as good to shoot with a less subtle trigger and more movement during the shot cycle. Well, at least in my hands and it's going to take a while before I'm confident enough with it to sign some cards. It's going to be an interesting one this year. |
|
|
|
Post by Bri M on Apr 8, 2023 8:43:08 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Bri M on Apr 20, 2023 18:30:38 GMT
We had premonitions about this and I'm afraid they've come true - Jean went straight in with an 82 for 1st place. And that was with one in the white.   Steve continues getting mid 80s practice cards and I'm still grieving over my Izzy. Russ is juggling his shooting between competing and testing/reviewing rifles as an international, jet-setting airgun journo and Stef is, well, we don't know where Stef is. And here's a reminder that the Pistol League is open to all so feel free to come in by "10m Corner" and have a go. |
|
|
|
Post by Bri M on Apr 29, 2023 4:31:43 GMT
Not sure how this happened but after 10 practice shots in the black, I manned up and signed some cards. Totally surprised at an 86 in my 1st round as it normally takes months for me to break the 80 barrier.   And that was with the 480K2 which has had adjustments to the trigger since the last outing - it now has a much more controllable second stage. Not that John M noticed when he had a brief try on Wednesday. "It has a second stage??!!" were his exact words, I recall. |
|
|
|
Post by Bri M on May 6, 2023 6:29:12 GMT
No official entries this week although Stef did put some practice in.
As for myself... Earlier in the week, I modified the Hammerli's sights to remove a glare problem and needed to re zero at 10m. I was in a rush on Wednesday evening and thought there was enough air in the cylinders to zero, practice and compete but, seven shots later, I was proved wrong.
Oh well, there's always next week.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bri M on May 19, 2023 5:57:04 GMT
 Details to follow... |
|
|
|
Post by Bri M on May 20, 2023 7:11:17 GMT
 A 90 from Jean. Outstanding. And unacceptable. For a few years, the previous highest competition score had been 89/100 (shared between Stef and myself) and now that's been beaten. This cannot stand - Pistoleros, it's time to get serious! In other news, Russ racked up an 80 and I only managed 10 hurried and erratic zeroing shots at 8.45pm and ran out of shooting time having been on the 50m range with the Rifle comps. Next time, it'll be pistols only. |
|
|
|
Post by Bri M on May 27, 2023 7:07:46 GMT
 Jean continues to shake things up with another horribly consistent 90. Hopes were high that the previous week's 90 was a one-off but they just took a hit. Is it too early to introduce a handicap system? |
|
|
|
Post by Bri M on Jun 3, 2023 6:01:14 GMT
 Stef has got his first round in with a (for him) below par 75. Excuses are an integral part of the Pistol League and Stef's was that he was distracted with lurid tales of physiotherapy sessions from Russ which will require the invention of "Ear Bleach" to remove the sordid imagery. Russ himself had a dip with a 77 and the three other Pistoleros were nowhere to be seen.   |
|
|
|
Post by Who? on Jun 4, 2023 8:54:41 GMT
A nice close competition- aside from Jean. This comp is developing into a serious event, it may even attract Mr Competition Cruikshank. A credit to all involved and thank you Bri for organising and reporting.
Is touching, scoring? If it is, looking at the pics, Russ was a little hard done by with the ‘6’ on the left hand target.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bri M on Jun 4, 2023 12:02:17 GMT
Thanks Who?
I'd like to get more rounds in as Jean can't have it all his own way but, on the occasions that I can actually make it to Denwood, there's always something that makes demands on my trigger time.
10m shooting demands time, concentration and an unhurried approach - all in short supply these days, I'm afraid. Last time at Denwood I didn't get to pick up my (unzero'd) pistol until 8.45pm so nothing worthwhile came of that.
Fingers crossed for the future though. 🤞
|
|
|
|
Post by Bri M on Jun 10, 2023 7:27:57 GMT
 Determined to give the others a run for their money, Steve's opening bid of 85 shows that he's not mucking about.  |
|
|
|
Post by Bri M on Jul 1, 2023 7:47:49 GMT
 A bad week for Russ with a 76. From the lofty heights of shooting 90s, Jean dipped down with an 89. He's probably devastated and consoling himself/training further with weapons grade beer. |
|
