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Blue Steel Ranch 2007 Steel Safari Practical Rifle Match |
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Blue Steel Ranch 2006 Steel Safari Practical Rifle Match |
The Steel Safari is a non-standard contest that examines practical rifle skills, including target recognition, range estimation, wind doping, trail skills, and marksmanship. Dr. David Kahn's Keneyathlon ("hunters test") is another of this type of hunting match. However, these skills are not limited to hunting. Matches such as the Practical Rifle Team Challenge (NM), International Tactical Rifleman Championship (WY) and various Sniper Challenge matches around the country approach the same format from a practical or tactical point of view. In both cases, the crux is target location, ranging, and making first-round hits in field conditions, while moving through the natural terrain. This is worlds different from both Bench-Rest and NRA High Power Long Range.
A true field match with no "square-range" in sight, competitors may need to use improvised and non-standard
shoot positions to make shots. At the 2007 match, Dave Wheeler announced it was the last year due to the labor required to set up the match. After a flurry of discussion, three shooters stepped up and offered to take over the match starting in 2008. Those three shooters were all Steel Safari veterans, and included Mike Kolar, Michael Field, and me (Zak Smith). Our feeling was that the match was too good to let die, even if it meant taking one for the team and running the match ourselves. (As match directors, we would be ineligible to shoot the match for score, since we would know all the target locations.) Thus, the 2008 Steel Safari was run under the banner of Colorado Multi-Gun (CMG). CMG was formed in late 2005, and the first major match it presented was the 2006 Practical Rifle Team Challenge.
The ability to efficiently visually locate and range targets in the field is critically important to
success at the Steel Safari.
Given a proven match format, we didn't want to make a lot of changes. However, we did want to simplify certain procedurals aspects of the match, and we wanted to increase the round count. To this end, we increased the target engagements to six at each station and we established ten shoot stations on each field course. This yielded a total of 60 engagements per field course, or 120 for the entire match. In addition, to ensure parity with regard to weather conditions on the two match days, we equalized the mix of short and long-range targets on each course. The average target distance on the North and South courses were within five yards of the same distance -- about 350 yards.
Shooters are staged on the K.D. range for the LRSM, engaging targets during their turn from 400 to
1000 yards.
Due in part to the photos I took at the Blue Steel Ranch during practice and prior Steel Safari matches, demand for this match was high. This was the first year any advertising was done for the match, and excitement on internet forums like SnipersHide was high. The match filled to its 30-shooter limit within about ten days. Ultimately, everyone on the wait list got an opportunity to register for the match due to some last-minute cancellations due to the price of fuel and travel. In all, there were 27 competitors including representatives from Surefire, CS Gunworks, Newman Precision, Thunder Beast Arms, Big American Man, and J.Dustin/Legacy Sports. Due to lack of interest, the "Light Rifle" category was cancelled, and shooters used a variety of rfles from 6XC/.243 Winchester up to .300 Winchester Magnum.
Under tight time constraints, this shooter engages a final target. To save time, it's important to
have the necessary gear accessible (pack in foreground).
The stage procedure proscribed that shooters come to each station blind, with no notion of where the targets will be located. The range officer (RO) read the written brief from the stage description, and then the shooter had five minutes to locate the targets, identify them to the RO, do range estimation, dope the wind, and make the shot. Each target gets one shot, and that's it-- no alibis, no sighters. The shooter earns one point for each target located and identified, one point for each normal target hit, and three point for each bonus target hit. Many of the stages require some movement to re-engage the same targets again after moving up to ten yards from the original shoot position. Targets on the field courses were generally six or twelve inches across, and were placed as far as 700 yards.
The author usually competes with an Accuracy International AW in .260 Remington. Shown here is the
.308 he used to "shoot in" and verify the stages earlier in the week.
This year the wind conditions were extremely difficult. News reports claimed that the Logan area was getting more wind than it had in decades. Shooters come to expect five to fifteen mph winds, but constant 15 gusting to 35 mph is much more difficult. Temperatures hovered around 100 degrees which combined with the wind for afternoons that felt like standing in front of an open oven. The heat made the match a lot more physically difficult, and the wind made it a lot harder to make hits.
This Tubb 2000 rifle had a reliability problem early on the first day of the field courses. The
shooter was able to rectify the problem, but wasted over a minute of precious time. Watch the Video: Rifle Reliability Highlights from CMG 2008 Steel Safari
A variety of rifles, calibers, and scopes were used at the match, however, each competitor had a set of more or less similar gear. First, an accurate rifle critical. Bench-rest accuracy is not required; one MOA is sufficient, one-half preferred. Almost everyone is using their own hand-loads with premium bullets from Sierra, Berger, or Lapua. Ballistic data, or "dope," completes the triad with the rifle and ammunition. Most shooters laminate a small card and tie it to their rifle or scope, or use a retractable "pathfinder" available from Allison Machine Tool or Leupold. Long-range ballistic data isn't useful unless the target distances can be determined, and the best tool for that is a laser range-finder. Since many laser range-finders are monocular units with limited field of view, a good set of binoculars can be a life-saver when trying to find that hidden target. Just about everyone uses a bipod on the rifle, except for the shooters in light rifle class whose rifle could not "make weight" with one installed.
Each field course was about 3.3 miles in length, with ten shoot stations spread out. Water and
exertion management was a big part of this match. Make sure to follow the path!
The most popular rifle make was Remington (52%) followed by Accuracy International (17%), then Surgeon (13%), McMillan/Tubb (8%), and one each Howa and Husqvarna. The .260 Remington was the dominant cartridge (32%) followed by .308 Winchester (26%), then 6XC (9%), and one each of .260-AI, .270 Winchester, .300WM, .243WIN, 6.5-06-AI, 6.5-06, 7 WSM, 7 RSAUM. The .264/6.5mm bore diameter was completely dominant (43%) followed by .30 (30%) and then 13% shooting .243 and .284. The only custom builder with more than one gun present was GA Precision (2). 78% of the competitors shot hand-loads, the rest shot factory. Hodgdon powders totally dominated (89%) with Alliant and VV each with 5%. Sierra bullets lead with 63%, followed by Lapua (22%) and Berger (16%).
Stages with only three targets required the shooter to move to a second position to re-engage the
targets. Scott Boiko hauls ass to the second position on a South course stage.
From the perspective of the match director, I believe the match was a success. We had no major glitches or complaints, and no one got hurt. There was a some trouble with the wind blowing away the trail flagging on the South course, but everyone made it through. One stage had to be thrown out due to target damage. About 50% of the shooters were Steel Safari alumni, and the other half were new to the match. For the first year running the match as Colorado Multigun, we made minimal changes to the format. Will there be any more changes for 2009? I don't know yet, but I would like to be able to accept more than 30 shooters into the match. Based on a review of this year's logistics, we should be able to figure out if that is possible for next year. There is also talk of expanding the LRSM to add more rounds. I thank the competitors, Dave and Lorraine Wheeler, Mike Kolar, Michael Field, Chuck Ward, John Sternberg, and all the sponsors for making this a great match. Stay tuned for 2009 news!
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This is what's it's all about: one shooter, one rifle, one round per target. Make it happen.
George Delena shoots a .260 Remington rifle built by GA Precision. Wind on the Long-Range Side
Match was a challenge, but George pulled through for 2nd place in the LRSM.
The competition overall did not disappoint. Just take a look at the leaderboard: from second to ninth place were separated by less than ten hits in a 120 round match. I found myself having a bit of difficulty making hits the first day of the main match. Wind was making my Kestrel hum like an electric razor. One minute it was full value and 30mph the next it was 10mph with zero value but due to all the canyon updrafts you were lucky to keep your hat from blowing away at the firing position. Very challenging stuff. Day two was a bit easier for wind calls, but the targets seemed to be further away - and smaller! I saw one at 715 yds and thought it was from a different course of fire! In the end I wound up with a respectable finish for a first time and made a couple of new shooting buddies.
Whether you're a static range F-class shooter, SWAT sniper or long range hunter gearing up for the season (all 3 were present), this match will be a challenge and it will make you better.
John Sternberg racks a round out of his 6.5x47 Lapua rifle during the Long-Range Side Match on Friday.
If you think you are a good (or better) shooter then join us in the variable winds (10 to 35+ MPH) and variable terrain (steep inclines and declines) and varied shooting positions (not all prone on flat ground!). If you think that doping the wind is easy and that your data card does not matter
Sternberg demonstrates his strategy for staying safe in the brutal, hot sun of the New Mexico desert.
As to the competition there are always better shooters that will show you how to get your hits. The quality of the gear and experience of the better shooters makes the trip worthwhile, even if you are paying $4 for a gallon of gas (or more for diesel!).
I have been shooting the Sporting Rifle Match at the Whittington Center for the past few years. This is a great training ground for the BSR but does not compare in terms of the match format or difficulty. Quality optics, range finders and binoculars are a requirement to compete in either venue. I learned why most of the shooters used binoculars with a range finder --- they work better than using separate devices to first locate the hidden targets and then find them again with a range finder. At least half of my missed targets were due to failure to locate the hanging steel. The monocular range finder (I used the Swarovski) was a clear disadvantage to finding a target when compared to my Zeiss binoculars.
Lastly, be certain that you use enough Ballistic Coefficient (BC) and velocity. BC does matter greatly in variable winds and provides more room for errors. Velocity helps you cheat the speed of wind along with the higher BCs when shooting long range targets. Be certain of your zero and that you can shoot one-half MOA because anything less is a waste of time and money. Next year I hope to shoot better than 50% misses and 50% hits
Target location is a key component of the Steel Safari challenge. Ray Sanchez tries to get a
handle on targets on a stage on the North Course.
For the field stages you had either three targets that would be engaged from two shooting positions or one shooting position with six targets. At each stage you had five minutes to find, range and engage the targets. The use of a quality LRF aids greatly in finding and ranging. Five minutes for six targets is plenty of time if you're squared away. Once targets are located and you start to engage them you better have good data for your load. Ten inch squares hung as diamonds out to 800 yards or so and four inch wide plates at closer ranges do not leave much room for error in your wind call - trust me on this one, I was shooting a 308.
If you want to test your field shooting skills, get that expensive rifle of yours off the bench and maybe even scuffed up a bit: try your hand at the Steel Safari. This is not a match for posers, you get just one shot at each target so only hits count.
The following sponsors made the match possible. Please give them your support and a note of thanks.
Surefire U.S. Optics CS Gunworks (Mike Cecil) Kifaru Sierra Bullets
Lapua Dillon Precision Clark Custom Guns Stag Arms
IOR Valdada Big American Man - Ray Sanchez
For more reviews and discussion of the 2008 Steel Safari, see this thread on SnipersHide:
2008 Steel Safari Match - NOW + RESULTS & PHOTOS
The geographical features available to shoot from at the Steel Safari can be breathtaking. Shooter
Jimmy Holdsworth engages one of the longest shots in the main match from this position on the North course.
RESULTS
MAIN MATCH (hits) 1 Mark Allison 82 2 Todd Reynolds 74 3 Mike Dowd 73 4 George Delena 72 5 Jimmy Holdsworth 69 6 Jerry Newman 67 7 Ray Sanchez 308 67 8 Chuck Ward 65 9 Stan Sanchez 65 10 Jim Brown 60 11 John Sternberg 60 12 Tim Cannon 60 13 Garth Reader 58 14 Ed Belfour 57 15 Cody Carroll 308 56 16 Matt Midcap 308 55 17 Bob Shigemura 55 18 Scott Boiko 53 19 Dirk Reader 53 20 John Dustin 47 21 Paul Pompeo 308 45 22 Gary Mowery 43 23 Mike Cecil 308 35 24 Jason Hicks 308 28 25 David Brandt 26 26 Jeff Badley 18 27 John Wray 308 17 * LRSM results used as tiebreaker Long-Range Side Match (LRSM) (points) 1 Jerry Newman 81 2 George Delena 75 3 Jimmy Holdsworth 61 4 Chuck Ward 59 5 Mark Allison 49 6 Stan Sanchez 46 7 David Brandt 45 8 Scott Boiko 44 9 John Dustin 44 10 Dirk Reader 43 11 Jeff Badley 42 12 Cody Carroll 308 39 13 Mike Dowd 34 14 Mike Cecil 308 30 15 Tod Reynolds 29 16 Paul Pompeo 308 28 17 Matt Midcap 308 28 18 Jim Brown 26 19 Garth Reader 25 20 Ed Belfour 17 21 John Sternberg 16 22 Ray Sanchez 308 14 23 John Wray 308 11
