mike H wrote:The big problem is the plastic drooping over the front of the scope and blocking the sighting. I have a similar setup and have cut the length back once,but it was still not enough and had to discard it last weekend.I am thinking of cutting a scallop out of the front so that the middle of the plastic has minimal overhang of the scope,but still leaving more width on the sides to cover the ammunition and loading procedures. Mike.
Mike,
There's a simple fix for the front of the scope - don't cover it. Its not the end of the world if you get a few spots on the objective lens - just cuts down the light a little. If you use a long lens shade, very little gets in there anyway. Its the eye-piece lens you need to be careful with, so that's where my plastic sheet overhangs a little (within the eye relief constraints). Its critical to keep eagle eyes dry in TR and I believe a long tunnel protects it quite well.
Here's how I plan to stop my rain shield blowing away. A quick release strap latch on either side connecting the alloy strips to the front rest. Quick to click on, the sides wont be pegged to the ground and there's no way it'll be blown anywhere. Win, win.
Here's a poorly slapped together (masking taped) trial of a solution to the 1m x 1m plastic sheet dropping down in front of the scope. I've just rolled the far edge of the plastic sheet up, taped it and slipped a length of thin cable in it. It's kind of becoming more like a tent, but I don't know if it is because it still drapes over the rifle, isn't pegged to hold its shape and rolls up. Do you think this is pushing the boundary Alan?
Denis, bloody fantastic! The Dead Sea scrolls could be safely wrapped in that. Tim, contact your state association delegate to the NRAA to get the ball rolling. David.
One of my club mates ScottR just made me aware that 1m in length is probably too long for a lot of mounds. Often the front rest are positioned just before the mounds drop offs. I considered sliding it back and scalloping out the shooters end keeping full length alloy strips, but I think that would be uncomfortable and clumsy. I think I'll need to reduce its length by 200mm. That might even eliminate the need for the wire at the front especially if slightly thicker sheet was used.
I hadn't thought of this problem since the mound angles at our club are mild.
Tim N wrote:Hi All, What would be the procedure to get a personal"tent" like my design and the last version of Dennis' allowed ?
where does it say in the rules the cover can not have a frame? to me the rules make no distinction between frame or no frame. If a towel is allowed to cover more than your barrel and action then why can't you put a frame under it to protect the same area?
if it covered YOU then it would require some sort of approval.
Im making one up as well, but mine wont be that long. Im a little worried in a headwind it may pick up like a sail and flip over. I know there is weight on the side to stop it, but in some conditions ive seen, it could still be possible. Mine will be just short of the front of the scope so it wont interfere and as Alan pointed out, your not going to get much rain if you have a sunshade on your scope which the NF comp does. Will just drape it over the top and not fix it to the rifle at all. But it will be long enough to the side to cover the ammo box as well.
I had emailed John K and asked what might be appropriate as the QRA Queens is close. John contacted the NRAA for clarification and answered my email with the following. Thank you John for looking in to this for us.
Denis,
I now have a definitive interpretation from the Rules Director regarding wet weather protection of F Class rifles. it is:
(1) F/TR rules are unique as they are directly derived unchanged from the international rules & are specific to that discipline only.
(2) F Standard and Open rules are derived from domestic committees' recommendations to the NRAA and NOT ICFRA rules & are thus quarantined from the F/TR section of the SSRs.
(3) Therefore, as FO rules do not include provision for wet weather protection, the rules applicable to TR shall prevail, viz:
3.1.4.4 Items may be placed over or attached to the rifle to deflect heat shimmer from the barrel or to prevent dust or rain from getting into the action.
3.2.1 A waterproof mat may be placed over the fore end and breech mechanism to prevent the entry of water.
(4) In the case of FS, the condition is catered for in the rules & is essentially consistent with TR rules, Viz:
20.12.3 Items may be placed over or attached to the rifle to deflect heat shimmer from the barrel or prevent dust or rain from getting into the action or scope, and will be considered an attachment.
In terms of parity between FS & FO, I would consider that a cover would only be considered an attachment were it fastened to the rifle & I suspect that that was the intent of the FS committee. Additionally, both FS & FO shooters would not be precluded from covering scope, action & fore end.
Note also that the framed "tent" that I and the Rules Director rejected in 2014 and which is pictured on the F Class web site is still not considered to conform to these rules.
You may post this on the F Class web site as a determination from the QRA CRO & NRAA Competition Director
Denis, your work and the responsiveness of the NRAA is to be commended. As FO is not covered by the rules with regard to wet weather protection, then I think the due process is for the appropriate NRAA Committee to consider a consultation and formulate a set of rules for a solution. Perhaps a fair competition is served by our rules specifying what you can actually use for competition purposes, but rules evolve with competition because of good sense or government imposition but by proper process. All disciplines are different and IMO the spirit behind FO is one of innovation. There is an obvious gap in the rules for FO and particularly for safety when some FO competitors are operating and experimenting with gear on the edge, that needs to be filled. As the inaugural VRA representative on the Victorian Police and Emergency Services Hunter Safety Committee that led to the development of Firearms Licence Examination and years of official work with that group, I soon learnt from other disciplines their needs were different as was the individual's perceptions of what was safe. Had the awakening from seeing a former Police Surgeon Dr. Birrell's full set of pathology slides.
but if it does, I'll be ready. 
.
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