This month wraps up the competitive shooting season for most of us at Sinclair’s. We have a Halloween match at the end of the month that ends the 2009 season for the NRA Long-Range and F-Class shooters in our company. Several members of our staff are avid hunters and hunting preparation is quickly becoming a priority among them as the seasons begin to open.

As we approach the colder season (in parts of the world), this is a good time to go through your firearms and make sure that they are clean and well oiled for protection during the winter months. A colder climate doesn’t necessarily mean an end to shooting for a lot of us by any means. We look forward to those clear, sunny winter days to get out of the house and do some practice shooting. We are also fortunate in our area to have some high schools where we can do regular smallbore shooting, a great trap/skeet range that has winter leagues, and a few indoor ranges for the handgun shooters. Winter is also a great time to do some quality practice by dry firing. Check out our selection of snap caps from Harbour Arms or A-Zoom by Lyman.

I am busy myself wrapping up outdoor chores while looking forward to getting into my shop to tackle some winter projects and take inventory of what I need in the way of supplies for next year. I need to get caught up on some of my own reloading. With two kids away at college, the assistance I get with reloading chores consists of my dogs looking up once in awhile from their nap to give me a look of encouragement.

The Sinclair Christmas catalog will be mailing out the first week of November so keep an eye out for it. Remember our easy to use website and helpful, friendly sales staff makes it fun for you (or your family) to Christmas shop with Sinclair International. 

Good Shooting,

Bill Gravatt
President – Sinclair International, Inc.

Hello Fellow Shooters,

I sometimes talk to shooters about “across the course” shooting and I take for granted that everybody know what this type of shooting is. I was asked to write a few lines and give those of you not familiar with it a crash course in “across the course” shooting.

Other names for “across the course” shooting are NRA High Power, National Match course, and Regional match course.

Conventional High Power is a match as follows:

1^st course of fire – 200 yards offhand or standing with 2 sighters and 20 shots for record. Single shot loading is utilized. Time allowed is 22 minutes. Total points possible are 200-20X.

 2^nd course of fire – 200 yard rapid fire sitting with 2 sighters and 2 separate strings of 10 shots. Time allowed is 60 seconds for each 10 shot string. Fired from the sitting position. There are a total of 20 rounds shot for record. Match rifles load 5 rounds and require a reload of 5 rounds in each string. Service Rifles are loaded with 2 rounds in the first magazine and require a magazine change with 8 rounds in the second magazine. Total points possible are 200-20X. Scores are presented to the shooter after each string of 10.

3^rd course of fire – 300 yards rapid prone with 2 sighters and 20 shots for record (2 strings of 10). You are allowed 70 seconds for each 10-shot string.  This course is shot from the prone position but the procedures are the same as in rapid sitting. Again, total points possible are 200-20X.
(There was a rule change last year that allows you to remain in position after your sighter shots – you used to have to return to a standing position prior to the start of rapid fire.

4^th course of fire – 600 yards slow fire prone with 2 sighters and 20 rounds for record.  Time allowed is 22 minutes with 200-20X maximum total points. Scoring and shot location is done after each shot.

This type of shooting is done at rifle ranges which have target carriers that allow the target to be raised and lowered by other shooters protected behind a berm (referred to as the “pits”). During slow fire courses the targets are lowered, scored with shot position marked, and raised after each shot. The same procedure is provided for sighters. During rapid fire courses the target is raised to start the time and then pulled or lowered at the completion of the allowed time period. Scores are sent up after each string.

Many ranges around the country may not have a 600 yard range and may only have a 100 or maximum of 200 yards. Reduced targets are used on these ranges with the aiming black and scoring rings reduced in size proportionally for the 200, 300,& 600 yard courses of fire. This compensates for the reduction in firing distance.

Another part of High Power Competitions can include Mid-Range Prone matches.

These can be shot at 300 yards, 500 yards, & 600 yards. The matches are 2 sighters and 15 rounds for record in 17 min or 2 sighters and 20 shots for record in 22 min. All of these matches are shot from the prone position using iron sights. Some ranges will hold 3 matches that are all at 600 yards and open the field to allow F-Class shooters to participate.

 I hope this helps other shooters understand “across the course” or High Power competition if they weren’t already familiar with it. This is a very simplistic explantation. If you want more information, I recommend you get a copy of the NRA Rule Book that explains all the rules including the courses of fire, scoring, and firearm requirements. It also explains the different classifications that shooters hold – Marksman, Sharpshooter, Expert, Master, and High Master.

I originally began High Power with the hopes it would help me shoot better in the field. I enjoy varmint and big game hunting and learning to shoot from different positions was a big help.

Ron Dague

Reloading Technician
Sinclair International

Editor’s Note: This is the second installment on cleaning from our technical staff. We asked three (3) of the Technicians on our staff to describe the cleaning procedure that they follow. This month’s installment is presented by Phil Hoham.

I shoot both 3-Gun and NRA Long-Range so there is no way I have time to clean during a match. In addition, the round counts through these rifles are rather high. My long-range rifles see a minimum of 45 to 60 rounds for score plus 6 or more sighters. 3-gun rifles, depending on the stages, may see 50-100 rounds per match. The 1911 .45 will also see the same round counts during a 3-gun match.

Lets start with the long-range rifles first. For my 6BR,6.5X47 Lapua and .308 Palma rifles I start by running 5-6 loose patches wet with Bore Tech Eliminator down the bore and let it soak while I clean the bolt and action. After finishing with the bolt and action, I like to run 5-6 additional loose patches with Bore Tech Eliminator to push out the fouling the first application has loosened. If I am not in a hurry to get the rifle clean, I will let it soak overnight and run some more wet patches through the bore the next morning. Next, I wet-brush the barrel using a bronze bore brush, then wet-patch the residue out, using more of the Bore Tech Eliminator. The last step is dry patching out the bore with the patch center punched so a tight fit in the bore is achieved. What I look for after the first couple of patches is a blue or a black stripe on the patches. If I see a blue (copper) stripe I will finish dry patching the barrel and then run a few wet loose patches of Montana Extreme 50 BMG Copper Killer down the bore and let it soak awhile. For a black stripe (carbon or powder) I use the TM Solutions solvent with a bronze bore brush. I repeat either technique till the blue or black is gone.

For my AR-15 used in 3-Gun matches, I follow the same steps used in my long-range rifles.

Since the .45 is fed mostly lead reloads, Montana Extreme Cowboy Blend and a bronze brush are used to get the lead and powder fouling out. All of the solvents used are safe to leave in either stainless or chrome moly steel barrels for extended periods of time.

The bore oil used in all my rifles and shotguns is the TM Gun Oil. It stays put and prevents any rust. The bolt greases are TM Ultra Bolt Grease for the bolt actions and Mil-Comm TW-25B Lubricant for the AR-15 and 1911. For bolt action triggers, I use Ronsonol Lighter Fluid to clean and lubricate. The general theme for all my cleaning is that I let the solvent do the work and not my right arm and rotator cuff.

Phil Hoham
Reloading Technician

Competitors in the 2009 United States F-Class Nationals were greeted by dry weather and mild temperatures for the event held at Camp Butner, North Carolina.  Situated in the pine forests north of Durham off I-85, Camp Butner is primarily a National Guard training site, but the host of the event, North State Shooting Club uses the 1000 yard range as its home turf.  It is a beautiful but very challenging range for all competitors with shooting berms at every 100 yards or so creating some challenging conditions with wind swirls and vertical lift.

Over 140 Shooters from across the United States, Canada, and Europe travelled to Camp Butner to compete in the 3-Day event consisting of both individual and team matches. Individuals shot three 15 shot strings for record per day (Day 1, 600 yards/Days 2 & 3 1000 yds each).  The team matches featured 4 – man shooting teams plus coaches and consisted of 20 rounds at both 600 and 1000 yards.

A view down range at the 2009 F-Class Nationals

The challenging conditions with the constant wind shifts and occasional gusts did not seem to bother the top shooters.  Charles Ballard (1328-62X ) edged Jim Murphy (1327-59X) in the open class by one point to take the crown.  In the F-T/R Class, veteran Danny Biggs posted a score of 1288-38X to win top honors edging Jeff Rorer ‘s agg of 1284-34X. 

The team competition was held each day after individual matches were completed.  These were long days of shooting for those who took part in both the individual matches and the team matches.  Both in the 600 yard and 1000 yard open class team matches, the “Sierra Spindle Shooters”, (Shawn Ahrens, Brett Solomon, Jeff Traylor, and Jeff Cochrane) took the open crown with a 794-44X at 600 yards, and 791-30X at 1000 yards.

In the F-T/R  class “Team Sinclair”,(Brad Sauve, Jeff Rorer, Derek Rodgers, and Paul Phillips),  who are the reigning champs and National record holders,  raised the bar winning both the 600 and 1000 yard events while breaking their own records at both distances!  Shooting their .308’s off of Sinclair F-Class Bipods, they totaled 784-40X at 600, and 774-20X at 100 yards.  All of us at Sinclair are very proud of them. We look forward to more great results and wins from “Team Sinclair”!

Gold Medal Team - Team Sinclair

 In addition to the top finishing shooters and teams, there were also other categories recognized.  Top Seniors were Danny Biggs in F-T/R and Jim Murphy in Open.  Top Women were Michelle Gallagher in F-T/R and Karin Liebetrau in Open.  Top Juniors were Mason Parker in F-T/R and Ruth Chiappinelli in Open.  Over $15,000 dollars in merchandise was awarded to all of the top shooters.  A real surprise to the Juniors was the awards of new stocks, actions, and barrels to start off a new rifle project!

The North State Shooting Club who hosted and ran the event did an excellent job and were extremely hospitable. This club hosts a mix of all disciplines of shooting events year round and is truly a class act.  Each evening, prior to the awards, North State Shooting Club sponsored home style North Carolina dinners that were a huge hit with the shooters.  Fried chicken, Pulled BBQ pork and the sides were all excellent, and were great after a long day of shooting. For more information on North State Shooting Club go to www.northstateshootingclub.com.

Two shooters from our sales staff made the trip to Camp Butner and competed in the Open Class.  Rod Green, a reloading technician, and Pete Petros, Call Center Supervisor, shot their first U.S. F-Class Nationals at this event.  Both finished in the middle the pack and had a great time while meeting fellow shooters, old and new friends, and putting faces on familiar voices (over the phone).  They set up a Sinclair product and information table along with Harbour Arms Precision (supplier of our new match rifle snap caps).  After shooting they were able to show some of our new products and a select few of our old favorites to those who wanted to learn more about precision reloading for accuracy.   

Pete Petros & Rod Green manning the tent at the 2009 F-Class Nationals

We look forward to being part of the next U.S. F-Class Nationals next March in Sacramento, California.  When more details emerge on the next event we will be one of the first to let you know here on the “Reloading Press”.  Until then good shooting!

Pete Petros
Sinclair, Intl.

 **F-Class competition is one of the fastest growing long range disciplines today.  Originating in Canada, it was first started as a “fun” class. The “fore father” of this class was Mr. George Farquharson.   He came up with the idea of F-Class to aid himself and other veteran shooters to continue competing with their fellow high power counterparts who shoot prone with iron sights and a sling.  F-Classers replaced the iron sights with a scope and replaced the sling with the option of using either a front bi-pod or a bench rest.  Farquharson and others convinced the Canadian NRA (DCRA) to approve the idea and it became official in the 1990’s.

This idea became very popular with all types and ages of shooters and quickly spread throughout Europe, South Africa, the Pacific and the United States.  As it grew in popularity in the U.S., the NRA officially accepted it and today F-Class has thousands of shooters worldwide. 

F-Class shooters shoot on targets that are half the size of the targets used by traditional high power shooters.  Both classes in F-Class use the same target.  The categories are F-T/R and F-Open Class.  F-T/R is shot either with the .223 Remington or the .308 Winchester cartridge off of a bi-pod and rear bag or monopod.  F-Open is open to any caliber cartridge up to .35 cal, and is shot off of a bench rest with a rear bag.  Both categories have separate rules regarding rifle total weights, rests, etc.  To read these rules, and find out more on NRA F-Class, you can find them on http://www.nrahq.org/compete/rules/rul_hpr_06.pdf.