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GASTONIA SNIPER CONFERENCE 2009 Daily coverage and updates of the conference and match from the only MEDIA team in attendance and shooting the conference/match . . .
meet team SNIPERWORX George Hunt - publisher and owner of www.sniperworx.com John Boyette - staff writer for www.sniperworx.com and owner of International Marksmanship Training , llc Just a little perspective pre-match . John and I have never shot together; in fact, we have never met in person either ! Our entire match preparation has been over the phone, discussing what each other is doing ,sharing practice session successes and opportunities with each other and making team decisions too. John and I are shooting AR-15's in the match Mine is wearing a Leupold 2.5-8x36mm MK4 M2 TMR reticle scope with a BDC knob; John's AR is wearing a NightForce NXS 3.5-15x50mm F1 front focal plane optic with mil-dots We are attending with an open mind and a good attitude - And we are looking to learn, talk to fellow competitors and have a good time doing it !
check in with us for daily progress at the GASTONIA SNIPER conference and match—www.gastoniasniper.org
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Tuesday Sept. 01, 2009—the drive to Gastonia, NC was about 6 hours for me; however, it went quickly, as I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day. Checked in at the motel, weapons check, gear check, dope cards, etc., the match starts tomorrow, with classroom time put on by US Optics’ Craig Mullen. This is followed by the 1st course of fire the ‘cold bore shot’ run 100 yards , shoot your cold bore zero (one shot) ; next for day one is the ‘night event’ , deploy from the rear of a patrol car with your all your gear( night vision etc., is allowed) run to an elevated shooting position, load your weapon and shoot two shots each. Staff cadre say it the night event will run until 1200pm or so ….
John and I are tracking and read to make some music with the long guns - my family is checking this page too, I miss you very much !! Love to you all xxoo Daddy |
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Day ONE is in the bag— G.Hunt “ very well organized, a super job by the Gastonia conference/match staff; North Carolina hospitality with a BBQ pulled pork lunch- followed by a great class by Craig Mullen of US Optics. We then moved to the range facility and did the 100 yd cold bore shot; after all 31 teams shot this, we went into downtime (fit in your own dinner etc.,) and we had the night shoot (one shot per shooter at a 100 yard hostage type head target ; the 10 ring was .25moa / .25” assuming the target was 100 y ards. Pile out of the cruiser, run up the hill to a one level platform, I climbed up, John handed up the rifles, I placed them, deploying the bi-pods, while John made his way up. To preserve night sight/vision we didn’t take any pictures but a slight angle down, the target slightly illuminated by say a 20watt bulb like a night light , reading lamp style . . . I pulled my shot left, still in the head but out of the scoring rings; John’s went right getting us one point I believe. We were in the middle of the pack, 18th or so in points , but now who knows ?” J. Boyette-Day 1, Gastonia Sniper Conference John Boyette I got down here and George and I went to the check in, the size of the group of shooters was shocking to see. I did not expect to see as many people as I did. The staff is very friendly, with a real world view of this Sniper Conf, the basic rule besides safety, is do whatever it takes to accomplish the mission at hand, within the overall goal of the sniper comp. If you were here, you would see different ways to execute the same COF from each Sniper Team, with no interruption from the staff. This is great to see a mature staff running an event of this size. The Sniper teams competing this year, have varied from in location to equipment used. One Military team is at the early stages of starting a SDM program. At this time the two Airmen are shooting with rack grade M=4’s with ACOG’s. A separate team is fully equipped with M-24’s and can’s. So it great to see the wide range of equipment and skill sets. As of now, one Georgia team has a Remington 700 PSS that will not group, and the US Optics rep gave up his demo gun so they can still go forward. My hats off to you Craig!!!!!!!
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Day two—G.Hunt “ we shot four events today ; the facilitate keeping the day moving the competitors were broken down into four groups A,B,C,D, - with approximately 9 teams per group. Our group shot bus assault, which was a 25 yard run around a berm, then up the berm at a 45 deg. Angle using a 3”inch rope, climb a platform and take one shot at approximately 100yds, on a hostage target . The event, as all the events , are timed which figures into the team score, and final points score too. We each had our own target, one shot each . The scoring rings on these hostage targets are .25” apart, and step down in 2 point increments from 10 for an X down to 2 points. Next was the unknown distance off a semi truck that a shooting platform was built on top of. A hostage target with .25” X and concentric .25” rings ended up being at 175yds and the far target was a B27 paper target, at 390yds ; after lunch we shot the ‘long shot’ event which are the pictures at left, the target set is 725 yds; this was a tough wind call and between John and I , shooting three shots each at the paper B27’s, and later seeing that we missed each time, realized we must have missed to the right due to poor wind calls. With John’s dope (22 moa) and mine (26 moa) we should have bracketed the target in elevation but didn’t; the 69 grain .223 factory loads are flying well but neither of us had any confirmed dope for 700 yards and our shots were just stabs in the dark, using ballistic software . . . Next was the final event of the day the EGG SHOOT. This was fun basically what you see in the lake picture, the small island in the middle is just that a small dam with an island separating these two ponds. So we started to the left of that ran to the island and I shot three rounds on a B29 target at 313yds getting some well needed points; then we picked up and ran to the right around the pond, to approximately 212 yds from the same target set, and John shot on three plastic Easter eggs, hanging from left to right ; we missed those darn eggs ; several teams hit one, two , and all three eggs . . . All in all it was a great day, terrific weather, fun time talking to all the LE and Mil snipers in attendance. The match is very well run, well thought out, plenty of staff to keep in the stages flowing, all questions were answered, very fair competition, with a genuine focus on consistency from group to group. The NightForce F1is getting lots of play time; several units are looking for optics for .50 cals or new .308’s and John is showing the NXS F1 to all who ask to see it and even some who don’t ask !! All thirty teams are very professional, helpful, and great to be around. Most are using this match as training— they all have family, lives , etc., outside of being professional shooters and are unsung heroes , it takes two seconds to tell a police officer or soldier thank you for the job you are doing … take the time and DO IT. THANKS GUYS .
Day 2 Gastonia Sniper conference J.BOYETTE This is FUN!!! For any LEO or mil Sniper this is the best event to come to for the whole year!!! The challenges you face, the skills you use are all directly related to the roll of a Sniper. This is the best staffed event I have been to date. There is about five to six Gastonia Police Officers on site per event. I was able to speak to Chief Adams the Gastonia Police Chief and his is very supportive of the Conference and is happy to share his training facilities with all the competitors. George and I are using more teamwork today than on yesterday. Today George and I are using more teamwork now due to the type of events the four events George and I shot where all very well laid out, setup correctly. The first event was the bus assault. We had to run around a bit, climb a hill, climb up to a tower and then we each had a target with one round each. I must say the Nightforce 3.5-15x50 F1 is working like a champ. The time was around 8:30 to 9:00am and the sun was behind the bus and some trees, the shadows in the bus did not give you a “full” range type target picture, but the Nightforce cut shadows just fine the both of us gained points on this event. The 2nd event Unknown distance shoot I liked; do to the layout. When you are in the staging location, you cannot see the targets, on the command go you run 100yds down range, climb up a ladder to a platform and we had two targets, George and I decided to split the workload of target engagement. George got on the platform first, placed his rifle down and used his LRF on my target. By the time I got the range from him, I sent my two rounds. I took the LRF from George and ranged his target as he got setup to engage. The third event after lunch was the long range target, the distance was a little over 700yds and the way the lane was setup was a challenge you had 630yds of a small lake to shoot over. So no tell tells for a wind call. The last 300yds was over a holding pond, and the wind was very calm for the last 300yds due to the shape of the trees. To be honest, I did not have the ability to shoot my rifle past 500yds for the train up, so I and George where at a disadvantage on this stage due to no DOPE for the AR’s. I shot the data from Exbal but did not make contact. The forth event was shooting over the holding pond. Once again George and I used team work to execute this event. I used the LRF to gain the range for the first target and then we relocated to the second location and George ranged my target package. All in all, you need to be here!!!!!
Day 3 and 4— it is tough to keep up with pictures and compete; I apologize for not getting this done sooner . . .
The match went well on day three with four events that focused on rapid bolt manipulation, close range, carbine work, and mover shots;
Carbine work was an eye opener— I had a malfunction, double feed , mid way through the event, cleared it and then moved on . . . On the rapid bolt drill , 100 yds, it was a large piece of paper 24”x48” or so, filled with geometric shapes, when you got to the line , the range officer drew your teams shape out of a bucket; the team then shot ten shots at that shape only , each shooter having their own target , and two minutes total to do it in. With AR’s this should have been our event to shine, I carried stripper clips and spoons to load quickly , we were done in like 55 seconds but you can’t miss fast enough they say and we missed several of our shapes entirely The next was bounding overwatch, starting at 100 yds, you shot snuff cans full of Tannerrite, that were hanging up , changing position as you progressively got closer to the target line; each yard line was marked with 55 gallon plastic barrels that you could use as support as long as you followed the rules, 100 yds was sitting using a bench, 75 yds was kneeling, sniper high crawl to the 50yd line, shoot it standing , then sniper low crawl to the 25yd line and shoot it in the rice paddy squat; four Tannerrite targets for each shooter, carry what you wanted as long as it went with you the entire way; I hit all four, this was fun as the Tannerrite goes BOOM when you hit it ! I really pushed hard on this event, feeling pretty confident we would do well. You had to have a safe weapon from yard line to yard line, so I single loaded all four rounds when I reached the correct position; all of this , like every event was under time, or a timed event, best time , most/best shots places first, etc.,
Day four— this was Saturday, yesterday; the ONLY event was the obstacle course , which was a real treat . . . You ran with your rifles across the range to the four story tower, placed your rifles and rifles only at the tower, went to a telephone pole balance beam, walk/run it, then to the 10ft monkey bars, jumped up, went across those , then to the sand pit/flat cargo net and sniper crawled under that, next to the vertical cargo net, I guess 25 ft high or so, climbed it, next around a cone, and over some walls, the first was 7 ft brick, then 5 chain link, then 4 foot chain link, then a wood beam of about 4 foot high, then on to the tower;
Each level has one ATTIC style access cut into the upper deck above the level you are on. The ONLY way up is through these square cutouts. Each level being 8 foot high. Of course by the time you reach the tower you are winded, I helped John up the first level handed our rifles up to him then jumped into the cutout and he pulled me up. Just two more to go . . . We were exhausted by this point ; it took us multiple attempts at EACH level of the tower to accomplish getting to the top. Each time me pushing John and him pulling himself up , then reaching back down to get me up too. On the top level , we switched up, as John was spent. I went up first, and thought I could pull or help pull him up. This did not work—at all . So I went back down to level two, and got John up first, then he pulled me up to the top. NOW WE GOT TO SHOOT !! I am laughing now, as I write this but it was a gut check I will tell you that much. Neither of us are quitters and if I had to stand there all day I would have , just to finish that event , I do not quit. Our targets were a hostage shot each, two shots for each of our bad guys , who was holding a hostage, then a bonus shot on a half pound of Tannerrite ; unfortunately, John hit his hostage— he called it as soon as he broke the shot, he knew it. His next shot was right in the T ZONE , my first was right cheek of the bad guy, and second was bridge of the nose; now on to the bonus, John said take it, and I did, making the Tannerrite go BOOM !! And ending this event for us at 11 minutes .
To give you some idea , most teams ran it in 4.5– 7 minutes ;
Today I am sore, but proud that we sucked it up and got it done. As we were purposely NOT in the running for points or prizes, we very easily could have passed this entire event up. In fact , several teams asked if we intended to run it, and we said yes , we were running it .
We could hear the other teams and crowd cheering us on , as we ran the course. It was a lot of fun and I can’t wait to do it again next year.!!
Gaston County and Gastonia residents should be proud of their police and this event. It was very well run, professional, plenty of staff, no safety issues, no question about what to do, an absolute pro event , through and through .
THANKS AGAIN TO ALL THE STAFF , YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE . I hate naming names cause then I forget someone. You guys and gals rock !!
Thanks to all the competitors for letting us run it .
The final top TEN were DESOTO COUNTY SO, Naugatuck Police, US Army 3rd ID team 2, UNC Greensboro Police, Gaston County Police, NC Hiway patrol team 2, Southhaven Police, Cleveland County SO team 2, NC Hiway patrol team 1, Raliegh Police Dept.
Regarding gear all kinds was there, from NightForce scopes to Bushnell, from stock Remington 700P to $4000 custom sniper rifles, like KMW or GA precision; no clear advantage for anyone’s gear; the top two teams were shooting custom rifles, the 3rd ID Army team was shooting M24 and a GA precision , the fourth place team was shooting Remington 700P ‘s with Leupold glass
It boiled down to consistency , and knowing your rifle and your craft.
Period— publisher , George Hunt
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