Match Debrief: Sage Flats Shooter

As individuals we have been able to hold our own in matches, but when we had an opportunity to participate in a team event it became apparent just how much we had to learn. The June 2014 Sage Flats Shooter team match proved to be an invaluable experience in working together as a team. It also taught us that we needed to be better prepared for match formats that we were not used to.

This was a “hidden targets” match meaning that competitors could not see the targets before their turn at each stage’s firing position . Targets were strategically distributed across the landscape, painted in such a way that they blended in with the environment, and distances were not provided. If you are used to neatly arranged, numbered and brightly painted targets at known distances you can become dependent. It can also be a challenge to describe the position of a target to another person particularly in an arid landscape with fewer distinctive features.

Your smartphone based ballistic application will not be fast enough to calculate DOPE for multiple targets. Just the time it takes to scroll between distances takes up valuable time. What you need is a comprehensive drop table allowing you to tick off distances when they are called out. It also pays to shoot the same cartridge so you don’t have to calculate separate drop tables. Once we moved to the same cartridge (6.5×47) it became apparent what a disadvantage we were at shooting different cartridges.

You can also get locked into a certain mindset based on prior experience. In this case, we thought that the targets had to be shot in a certain order because that is what we were used to in our local matches. On one stage we lost valuable time trying to shoot a hard to find target because we thought we had to shoot it first. The reality was, we could have shot the targets in any order and we should have prioritized the easier targets. Make sure you thoroughly understand the match rules so you don’t put yourself at an unnecessary disadvantage.

When shooting as a team, be mindful if your buddy has to shoot after you. For example, brass scrounging and equipment packing can distract your teammate when they are shooting. You also want to divide up tasks. In this case, Steve would range the targets and Ed would tick of distances on the drop table. When one person was ready to shot, the other would call out elevation and wind adjustments.

Finally, if you are going to be traveling to a number of matches, try to find a beater RV like Ed did. What you pay in fuel can often be offset by savings in other areas. It’s a big advantage to camp out at and wake up at the match site. We also learned that Walmart allows campers in their parking lots at night – another money saver.