F-Open at Alice Open

[AlanF]

I'm planning to shoot the Alice Springs Open before going up to the NT Queens at Darwin this year. Is anyone else shooting Open at Alice?

[AlanF]

My chances of success are looking quite good....

[DannyS]

No 1 coming up Alan, good luck.

Cheers
Danny

[AlanF]

Thanks Danny. Its encouraging to have some support when I really need it.

PS. I'll run a blog so you can keep an eye on every development as the shoot progresses...

[Chris S]

G'day Alan,

I'll be shooting FO on the Saturday, Sunday
and maybe the Friday depending on work commitments.

cheers,
Chris

[AlanF]

That's good to hear Chris. I hope to be there for the Thursday as well (1000m !). Would be nice to get a few more shooters to make a competition of it.

Alan

[Chris S]

I too hope we get a few more FO shooters,
I have a Savage M12 F-Class rifle in 6mmBR with
a Nightforce 8-32 with free ammo that I'll let a visitor
shoot if they are serious about shooting FO.

cheers,
Chris

[AlanF]

I've been in Alice for the last few days, shooting against myself in F-Open. There's 22 TR and 8 F-Std shooters competing, mostly from SA. Its a unique event in a great location.

Results are being put on the NRAA website after each renge. See http://www.nraa.com.au/central-australian-rifle-club-opm-results/. (Note that the NRAA Results dropdown is getting so long that it can be awkward to get to).

I've shot the leadup and first day of the Open and will probably just hang around and mark for the next two. I have sorted out loads for both barrels and don't want to wear them out.

Here's some photos provided by Richard Steel :

The range is located in a flat valley between two rugged and rocky ranges. Wind can get quite tricky at the longs. Here's the view from 1000m.


The mounds are raked of loose stones, and I found them quite good if using front and rear spikes.


According to the locals, there has never been a possible shot in any discipline at 1000m, even at club shoots, and that didn't change in this event. There were a couple of 48s in TR, and as you can see from our board, Terry Brewer had a 55 in F-Std and I had a 58 in Open.


So that's a challenge for anyone visiting Alice, have a shoot at 1000m and try to get the first possible!

I'm hoping to catch up with Chris S today - he apparently had to work yesterday.

Alan

[Razer]

Looks nice and green from when I saw it in 2008, was a veritable desert then!

Watch out for the vertical at Darwin, looks like no mirage there at longer ranges, but, in hindsight I know that I should have wound the power down on the scope as TR shooters were not so badly affected as some of the Fclass shooters.
Its a bitch when you get the wind right but get a high 4, then a low 4.

The truck museum in Alice is well worth a visit.

[Paul Janzso]

Hi Alan
I can see what you are thinking.
"Is it my turn? Is it my turn? Is it my turn?
Cheers
Paul

[AlanF]

Congrats to Peter Drew for his F-Std win at Alice. Peter drew away for the first two days, and although he coasted a bit on the last day, his lead was too much for the chasers.



There was some talk that based on numbers this might be the last Alice Open. That would be a real shame in my opinion. Its a charming town and they have a great range facility. It needs to be promoted around that 1000m distance, perhaps doing something like the US Nationals at Raton (which is all 1000yds), but with the extra distance and maybe Bisley style? Yes!

I'm in Darwin so will start a new blog tomorrow night after the first day of the leadup.

Alan