Agreed there are various ways of alleviating the problem such as using patches as spotters, or it can be solved entirely with electronic targets. However, there is a more radical solution that could be considered and that is for F-Open simply not to shoot 300yds at OPMs or major events - in fact I would like to see 500yds as the minimum distance. There are some F-Std who would like the same, because some of the .223s and better .308s can shoot very small groups at 300.
Here are a few points in support of this proposal:
- There would be no need for F-Open to shoot less shots (or even less ranges) because the F-Open format could be changed and still co-exist with the other categories e.g. in a 10 shot per range 3-5-600yd format, F-Open could shoot 2 ranges at 500, and 1 at 600, or could shoot 15 shots each at 500 and 600.
- Most other F-Class nations do not have short ranges at major shoots - many only shoot 800yds and beyond. Why should Australia be different?
- The main challenge in the F-Classes is wind-reading, (we get most other aspects pretty easy), so shouldn't we be shooting where the wind is most challenging i.e. the longer the better.
Alan