Yesterday, through the invitation of a contact I met on a hunting forum, a friend and I were able to shoot Big Game Rifle with the Canberra Branch of the SSAA.
The facilities at the SSAA Range in Canberra are superb.
There are at least 7 different ranges at the complex with 3 pistol ranges(including pistol metallic silhouette), a shotgun range and 3 rifle ranges including a 1000yd bench rest, Palma match and F-Class range.
We were shooting on the main range which stretches out to about 450yds and features rifle metallic silhouettes.
From what I've gathered Big Game Rifle is a relatively new discipline.
It promotes the use of big bore cartridges, double rifles and other rifles designed for hunting dangerous game.
It also develops the skills needed for hunting dangerous game.
There are clubs that shoot this discipline specifically and have different classes depending on your rifle or cartridge but the comp yesterday allowed any centrefire or black powder rifle.
There were a range of rifles including my 303/25 Enfield, a M96 6.5x55, a Brno 300 Win Mag, a Marlin 1895 45-70, a Browning A-Bolt 375 H&H, an 8x57 K98, a SMLE No1 MkIII 303, a Zoli 30-06 double, a Martini Cadet in 7.62x39 and a Shiloh Sharps 54 cal falling block paper cartridge rifle, which was amazing to watch and made a BIG hole!
The shoot was comprised of 3 events:
1.Charging Animal:
In this event targets are placed @ 25yds, 50yds and 75yds. Each shooter uses 6 rounds and must place 2 on each target within 35 seconds starting at 75yds and moving inward from there. This simulates a charging buffalo or lion. But those with repeating rifles may not load more than 2 rounds at a time. This simulates a double rifle and makes it significantly harder. In effect you shoot 2, reload, shoot 2, reload, and shoot your last 2.
2.Haley's Hop:
This sequence is almost identical to Charging Animal except that the shooter begins at 25yds and moves outward. This is to simulate a fleeing animal. The same 35 second time limit and 2 rounds-at-a-time rule apply here as well.
3.Special Snaps:
In this event each shooter has 8 rounds and can load as many as they like into their rifle. In 35 seconds they must shoot all 8 into a 25yd target and cycle & shoot as quickly as possible. It's perfect for those using SMLEs or smaller cal lever guns which have large mags and slick actions. Single shots on the otherhand do not fare so well.
I have to say, the comp was the most fun I've had in a while.
Due to some stupid restrictions at our local range I've had a bit of a drought shooting centrefire as it is but the speed of the shooting yesterday and the atmosphere was brilliant.
The initial nerves and anticipation before the Charging Animal shoot has you pumped and when it was over most of us came away with our hands shaking from the adrenalin.
Haley's Hop on the other hand was a bit of a bugger because as your time winds down you have to shoot further and concentrate more.
But the Snaps was excellent.
My Enfield had been slicker than snot on a door knob and with 8 rounds in the mag it did not jam (as I'd feared) and I actually dry fired at the end, not realising I was out of ammo.
After the comp was over we had a chance to shoot some of the rifles owned by the other guys and I also had some first hand advice about dangerous game hunting by guys who actually hunt it on a regular basis.
Anyhow, my thanks must go to the excellent mob at the Canberra SSAA club and I strongly recommend that people try this discipline themselves.
It's easy to set up and doesn't involve any special equipment.
All shooting was offhand & the targets used were 12" pistol targets with larger scoring zones as the emphasis is actually on hitting a decent sized target at close ranges.
Additionally with a total ammo expenditure of 20 rounds it makes it a cheap day for those who have to pay alot for big bore ammo.
Apparently the club also shoots Rook Rifle(any sort of Martini Cadet, standard or sporter) and rimfire in similar configurations with slightly different time limits and distances so I'll be making the 2 hour round trip again to have a go at these in the future.
