Steel challenge matches are popular these days with heavy rifles, detachable magazines and high-end optics but how about rifle matches better suited for hunters using "typical" hunting equipment? Has anyone heard of, attended or thought about such a match? A coworker mentioned something similar for PHs in Africa but how about here in the US?
If I were organizing such a match I would have a 10lb weight limit on the rifle with/without scope and each shooter would have to carry all of their equipment. Rifle cartridge/caliber would have to meet local hunting laws for deer and targets would consist of 8" steel plates set up at distances ranging from 50 yards to 500 yards (all UKD to the shooter). The plates would be painted using colors typical of game animals (not high contrast) and they would be placed such that competitors would have to use binoculars to locate many of them. Shooters would have to shoot from a variety of field positions with offhand/kneeling/sitting at closer distances and supported/shooting sticks/prone at greater distances. All stages would have a time constraint with a maximum of two shots allowed per target with only one hit per target being scored. 10 points for a first round hit, 5 points for a second round hit and 0 points for a miss. The points earned at each stage would be multiplied by the distance to the target and divided by 1000. For example, a first round hit at 300 yards would be 10*300/1000 = 3 points. A second round hit at 50 yards would be 5*50/1000 = 0.25 points. A match would consist of 10 to 15 stages.
If I were organizing such a match I would have a 10lb weight limit on the rifle with/without scope and each shooter would have to carry all of their equipment. Rifle cartridge/caliber would have to meet local hunting laws for deer and targets would consist of 8" steel plates set up at distances ranging from 50 yards to 500 yards (all UKD to the shooter). The plates would be painted using colors typical of game animals (not high contrast) and they would be placed such that competitors would have to use binoculars to locate many of them. Shooters would have to shoot from a variety of field positions with offhand/kneeling/sitting at closer distances and supported/shooting sticks/prone at greater distances. All stages would have a time constraint with a maximum of two shots allowed per target with only one hit per target being scored. 10 points for a first round hit, 5 points for a second round hit and 0 points for a miss. The points earned at each stage would be multiplied by the distance to the target and divided by 1000. For example, a first round hit at 300 yards would be 10*300/1000 = 3 points. A second round hit at 50 yards would be 5*50/1000 = 0.25 points. A match would consist of 10 to 15 stages.