Sports adventure shooting

11 November 2017

This was to be our final session for 2017.

Our schedule had been disrupted by the unexpected arrival of a large group of novice shooter in September (Due to a miscommunication) However the Sas blokes were happy to cancel the schedule and assist the newcomers in having a great time. October was cancelled due to personal commitments.

After a quick prayer and the usual safety briefing we set off to the range.

First order of business was to test the our proposed EDC qualification.

Essentially it would involve punching, knife work and shooting.

The participant stands in a square roughly 1.5x1.5m.
On the signal (Usually a firm shove) he starts to punch and kick the punching bag.
After 30 seconds of this he then draws from concealed and engages 4 targets. 4 hits per target required.
Thereafter he has to deploy a knife, stab a 2L water filled bottle suspended by string and the then slash the string.
Time stops when the bottle hits the ground.
This would be done 3 x
1st Punch Knife shoot
2nd Punch Shoot Knife
3rd Own Choice
The final score would be the average of the 3.

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Thereafter some pistol standards were done (from concealed)

Moving on we then practiced shooting from inside our vehicles. Both out of the passenger and driver side window. Driver had seat belt on, door locked, all windows open, engine running and in gear. Such a situation is fraught with risk because of the potential (and perhaps the inevitability) of sweeping oneself. It is also difficult for the RO to observe the finger/trigger.

On the last stage the drivers had to exit the car. (Stalling of cars and cars rolling away were observed.)
This was followed by shotgun work in which shotguns were passed down along the firing line so that each participant could have the opportunity to manipulate different types of actions, safety and reloading modes.

It was now close to 11:00 gathered around, doffed hats and held a minute’s silence. It was hot as we stood under a bright blue sky. Our countries flag was flapping gently in a light breeze.

It was a very special minute, and personally for me was humbling.

We then moved onto a team event, in which a pair would move over a distance of 100m and engage targets en route. This was done safely (a few of us dropped unsecured gear total value about R2200!) For safety sake we ran it dry first.

Personally for me I think this was the best shooting and moving that we have done at the range.
Calls were kept simple and to a minimum, and, most of the time the cadence of shots was consistent which kept the gongs ringing. We now need to get a scoring system sorted for it.

It was now about midday day, was very hot.

Next up was the camo drill.
Place 5 loose round on the firing line. Have an empty mag and the rifle lying next to it also chamber empty.
On the signal: Load the mag with one round, load the rifle and engage the target @100m
After the shot has been fired, remove mag, check chamber empty, release springs and then run to the 200m mark, do 10 push ups and walk or run back.

Repeat in the sequence of Standing, Kneeling and Prone.

Shotgun was the fittest and the best shot doing the fastest time and getting all 5 hits.

The balance of us got 3/5 hits. Yes it was hot, tiring and dusty exercise. But it was a lot of fun and well worth it.

Finally we practiced with hand guns shooting out to 100m. Those pistols with RDS got the most hits on earlier than those with iron sights.

The range was then cleaned up and we retired to the clubhouse for some cold beers and a very social braai.

Thanks to all who attended for their objective comment and criticisms of what we did.

The proposed calendar for Sas 2018 will be put up shortly.