Previous / Sample Events and Courses of Fire
OVERVIEW:
These events are intended to be both challenging and rewarding. In other words, they won't be too easy, but they won't be impossible either. Remember, they are intended to allow you to move to the next level of your shooting...so come on out! Courses of fire will not be published ahead of time in order to lend a little more realism to the events, so pay attention to the mission statement and any special equipment descriptions in the announcements. However, this page is intended to give the audience an idea what we do. Note: illustrations may not be an exact or complete representation of the courses of fire. Illustrations will likely not be to scale. Courses of fire are separated by the blue lines in these illustrations. Shooter positions are indicated in green.
UPDATE as of 09 Apr: We haven't forgotten about this page, we just haven't been able to update it recently. We promise we'll get to it as soon as we can!
Meanwhile, here are some courses of fire and images to tide you over.
UPDATE as of 17 Jun: We have some of the results up now. Be patient while we get some of the other results and course summary images up.
Sample Practical Rifle / High Power course of fire:
- This is one example of the courses emphasizing accuracy out to 300 yds from a static position.
- A variation of this would be to engage targets at up to 300 yds and move forward to either engage different targets or to engage those same targets again from a lesser distance and possibly a different position.
- Both of these variations have been used and will be used again in varied scenarios. This example includes one "no-shoot target", a start plate, and a stop plate.
200 and 300 yard ranges:
GRPC frequently is visited by wildlife, to include deer, hogs, cats, bears, bats, and on this day, a hawk (not shown).
RESULTS: SAT 14 JUN 14
Illustration to follow...
Sean: (Match Director)
Ron: 1st
Al: 2nd
Harvey: 3rd
Emphasis was on movement, firing in motion, working around barricades, and cover / concealment.
RESULTS: WED 11 JUN 14
Illustration to follow...
Results were calculated trying an electronic method, which worked well. Results and observations / lessons learned were discussed on-scene.
Emphasis was on target transition, working around barricades (thanks, Harvey!), and operations while in motion.
RESULTS: SAT 31 MAY 14
Illustration to follow...
Rifle Problem:
- Sean: (Match Director)
- Mike: 1st
- Erik: 2nd
Sidearm Problem:
- Mike: 1st
- Sean: (Match Director)
- Erik: 2nd
These events were beginner-friendly to encourage participation in the Military Appreciation Day. The rifle problem emphasized speed against targets between 50 and 100 yds and involved a reload (the longer distance challenge emphasizing accuracy up to 300 yds was not fired due to verification of participant ammo indicating it was steel core ammo). The sidearm problem emphasized speed against targets of varying sizes at distances between 15 and 25 yds.
RESULTS: SAT 10 MAY 14
Illustration to follow...
Ron: 1st
Sean (2nd Run): (Match Director)
Al: 2nd
Sean (1st Run): (Match Director)
RESULTS: SAT 29 MAR 14
No "formal" ranking for this event, as it involved target discrimination in a course that changed for each shooter.
RESULTS: WED 19 FEB 14
Jared: Tied for 1st
Jeff: Tied for 1st
John: 2nd
Sean: (Match Director)
Logan: 3rd
Brad: 4th
Emphasis for this event was on movement. The problem was run with rifle. Then it was partially run again with sidearm. Other sidearm work followed in the remaining time.
SAT 08 FEB
Impromptu rifle clinic for a relatively new shooter. Equipment review and comparison of zero and POA / POI from 50 yds to 300 yds, with an intro to practical rifle operation. Next clinic to be held upon request.
RESULTS: WED 08 JAN
QUOTABLE QUOTES: We practice in the cold and dark because one day we may be required to perform in the cold and dark.
- Due to problems with the timer, we did not keep score.
- Problem 1 involved a relatively far shot followed by a rather close shot, reloads while shooting from multiple positions at targets at various heights, working laterally, and movement.
- Problem 2 involved contact distance engagement, followed by engagement of targets at moderate distances for sidearms.
RESULTS: WED 20 NOV
(No "formal" ranking for this event.)
- Problem 1 was a cover/concealment drill from multiple positions, with movement.
- Problem 2 was a pie-ing exercise.
- Problem 3 was a "longer" distance exercise.
RESULTS: WED 09 OCT
We worked on operating with hand-held and weapon-mounted lights at distances between 15 and 100 yds. We also worked under minimal ambient lighting at distances up to 25 yds. Participants were able to compare equipment and techniques, their effectiveness under various conditions, their relationship to each other, and discover unexpected effects of firing in darkness. Participants also conducted some movement and one-handed drills.
OVERALL RANKING: (Tentative, subject to a few missing scoresheets)
Jared: 1st
Trey: 2nd
Beary: Tied for 3rd
John: Tied for 3rd
Jeff: 4th
Sean: (Match Director)
Harvey: 5th
Brant: 6th
Casey: 7th
Yes, it was that close between Beary and John that I decided to call it a tie. It was also very close between Brant and Casey. Additional details and analysis will be available for the participants.
- Problem One involved a reload drill, and was performed with the rifle, and then separately with the sidearm.
- Problem Two involved some movement, simulated cover / concealment and some one-handed sidearm firing.
- Problem Three (optional) became a practice event performed with the rifle at two distances separately.
QUOTABLE QUOTES:
- That was harder than I thought it would be.
- That's why we do this.
- It's not about the equipment, it's not even about winning. It's about each of us getting better.
In the spirit of Halloween, we had some targets with zombie or monster pictures on them, some fog (which was illuminated by chem lights after twilight), and some set dressing. If you look closely in front of the left tombstone, you'll see a "hand" coming up. (Too bad we didn't get the stray stand out of the back before this image was taken.)
RESULTS: WED 18 SEP
We worked on a variety of drills, starting at 10 yards and ultimately making hits with sidearms at 50 yds. Participants were able to compare various methods of target acquisition under conditions of darkness.
No ranking results for this event, as it was more of a workshop.
2x courses of fire. First course of fire was a set of drills starting at 10 yards, ending at 50 yds. Second course was multiple engagements with movement.
RESULTS: SAT 31 AUG
We're still working the bugs out of the scoring system, so if any of the participants do want their exact scores, simply contact me. Conveniently, no one was too close to another competitor (there were no 1-second defeats), so I'm confident in the following rankings:
Jeff: 1st
Sean: (Match Director)
Norm: 2nd
Kelly: 3rd
An analysis of the event will be sent to the participants. Kelly, please contact me to receive the e-mail.
In analyzing the course of fire, the advantages between red dots and low-power scopes became obvious. In future, the courses of fire will be designed with an attempt to even out the advantages. Alternately, if the course of fire is known to lend itself specifically to one set of equipment, we will try to publish that ahead of time.
3x courses of fire, plus a mystery bonus round.
Notes, from left to right:
- Problem 1 required a reload.
- Problem 2 required movement and targets up to about 150 yds (from the firing position).
- Problem 3 involved firing through cover/concealment and avoiding innocent bystanders.
QUOTABLE QUOTES: Riflemen engage targets at rifle distances.
