I shoot in the M-16 EIC Match at Camp Perry last week. I've been been meaning to post about it since I got home, but just now got around to it.
Before this match, I'd only ever shot my Garands in local CMP clinics. I decided to attend the SAFS and then follow up by shooting the M-16 Match. The best thing I got out of the SAFS was talking to one of the Army Marksmanship Unit guys before class started and having him completly fix my sitting position in about 10 minutes. We didn't even have a rifle! (Turns out I was doing EVERYTHING wrong). The other great thing about SAFS was shooting at 300 yards for the first time.
After the SAFS, I was excited to shoot the M-16 match and try what I learned. I was on Relay 2, Firing Point 12. This is in "The Tunnel" at the Vaile range, so-called because the effects the tree line on the left have on the wind.
The shooter on Relay 1 was an experienced shooter who wound up coming in 9th in the Match. He gave me some great coaching and between his help,and the coaching I received from the Army coach on the line, I learned alot during the match.
My rifle was a COLT M-16A2, made as such and not a A1 rebuild like I'd used in SAFS. The rifle ran fine and seemed accurate enough. I know about the three different trigger pulls caused by the "Burst" cam, so I found the "best" pull and then would dry-fire two shots in between live rounds in the slow fire stages to stick with one trigger pull.
I scored a 88-1x Slow Prone, 88-1x Rapid Prone and a 90-1x in Rapid Sitting. My slow fire was a few points down from what I usually shoot with my Garand at local clinics,but my Rapid Prone was much better then I normally shoot and my Rapid Sitting was light-years better then my normal. The coaching turned what is usually my worst position into my best.
Unfortunately, it all fell apart in off-hand. We had 10 to 15 MPH winds and I had a hard time keeping the rifle on target. I'm used to having some weight out there and the front end just seemed so light. I also realized later that I never really found my natural point of aim for off-hand that day. I had been in the hunt for leg points, but my 4 misses gave me a 45 in offhand for a final score of 312-3X.
Since I don't have a Match AR to compare the M-16A2 with, I was able to take the rifle and the trigger as it was without being "spolied" by comparasion to a match rifle.
I'm already planning for next year.
Before this match, I'd only ever shot my Garands in local CMP clinics. I decided to attend the SAFS and then follow up by shooting the M-16 Match. The best thing I got out of the SAFS was talking to one of the Army Marksmanship Unit guys before class started and having him completly fix my sitting position in about 10 minutes. We didn't even have a rifle! (Turns out I was doing EVERYTHING wrong). The other great thing about SAFS was shooting at 300 yards for the first time.
After the SAFS, I was excited to shoot the M-16 match and try what I learned. I was on Relay 2, Firing Point 12. This is in "The Tunnel" at the Vaile range, so-called because the effects the tree line on the left have on the wind.
The shooter on Relay 1 was an experienced shooter who wound up coming in 9th in the Match. He gave me some great coaching and between his help,and the coaching I received from the Army coach on the line, I learned alot during the match.
My rifle was a COLT M-16A2, made as such and not a A1 rebuild like I'd used in SAFS. The rifle ran fine and seemed accurate enough. I know about the three different trigger pulls caused by the "Burst" cam, so I found the "best" pull and then would dry-fire two shots in between live rounds in the slow fire stages to stick with one trigger pull.
I scored a 88-1x Slow Prone, 88-1x Rapid Prone and a 90-1x in Rapid Sitting. My slow fire was a few points down from what I usually shoot with my Garand at local clinics,but my Rapid Prone was much better then I normally shoot and my Rapid Sitting was light-years better then my normal. The coaching turned what is usually my worst position into my best.
Unfortunately, it all fell apart in off-hand. We had 10 to 15 MPH winds and I had a hard time keeping the rifle on target. I'm used to having some weight out there and the front end just seemed so light. I also realized later that I never really found my natural point of aim for off-hand that day. I had been in the hunt for leg points, but my 4 misses gave me a 45 in offhand for a final score of 312-3X.
Since I don't have a Match AR to compare the M-16A2 with, I was able to take the rifle and the trigger as it was without being "spolied" by comparasion to a match rifle.
I'm already planning for next year.
