Monday, May 25, 2026

MAY 24, 2026 - MINTO - RIMFIRE BR - OPEN/SPORTER

Thanks to Dale H. for sending the following results and to both Barb J. and Darryl K. for some of the pictures.

Our day in Minto started out with a temperature of about 2C on the way to the range but ended up at a warm 23C at the end of the match. A bit cool for May, but luckily we had a Semi-annual meeting scheduled before the rimfire match was to begin. By the time we started shooting the temperature was reasonable. The day was sunny, which was very welcome given the cool and grey spring before today.

As is usual, and so not unexpected, the wind in Minto was crazy. It was all over the place - coming from all directions although mostly from the left at about 9:00 o'clock and secondly from the 12:00 o'clock direction. In addition we had to deal with significant strong switches from the right at 3:00 o'clock and 5:00 o'clock. Quite a lot to keep track of during a relay of about 20 minutes. In addition, although there were periods of relative calm, the wind was forceful and peeked at at least 30km/hr in gusts. It is small wonder that no clean matches were shot today. 
Congrats go to Gerald D. who won the Open class and also shot the only clean target sheet of the entire match. Also to Darryl K. who came in second in the Open class. In the Sporter class, congrats to Wayne LeB. who placed first and to Volker T. who placed second. All things considered, some pretty good scores were shot today.

PEOPLE TO THANK:

Match Director – David C.
Scorer and Verifier – John M. and Dale H.
Range Officers – Wayne K., Darryl K. and Volker T.
Treats – Barb J. (Cookies), David C.  (Coffee and Cookies)
Target Changers – Barb J., David C., Bruce B. and Dale H.
Pictures – Barb J., Bert deV. and Darryl K.
 
RESULTS – OPEN CLASS RIMFIRE:


Shooter                     Targets                  Total
Gerald D. 198/3X    200/3X       398/6X
Darryl K. 199/5X    198/7X       397/12X
Bert deV. 198/7X    198/6X       396/13X
Dale H. 197/12X    198/10X     395/22X
Barb J. 197/7X    198/6X       395/13X
Bruce B. 192/2X    196/3X       388/5X
David C. 194/6X    193/4X       387/10X
George M. 196/4X    191/3X       387/7X
Norbert S. 192/6X    192/4X       384/10X
Wayne K. 179/3X    197/6X       376/9X
John McC. 198/7X    170/1X      368/8X

RESULTS – SPORTER CLASS RIMFIRE:


Shooter                  Targets                     Total
Wayne LeB. 199/4X    199/6X       398/10X
Volker T. 199/3X    197/7X       396/10X
Bert deV. 195/6X    198/5X       393/11X
Richard M. 197/5X    194/4X       391/9X
Danny G. 192/0X    191/7X       383/7X
John McC. 192/5X    168/1X       360/6X

Sunday, May 17, 2026

MAY 17, 2026 - PETITCODIAC - CENTERFIRE BR

Thanks to Darryl K. for sending the results and pics and to Dan G. for the write up.

"We only had seven shooters but that’s kinda the norm these days I guess.   It was a lovely day with the temperature hovering around 25C degrees.  The wind was moderate but twitchy, shifting very quickly - you had to be careful, lol !   Still some decent scores shot."  
Congrats go to Dan G. who shot a 300/22X and to John McC. with a 300/18X.

PEOPLE TO THANK :
Match Director - Dan G.
Scorer - Dan G.
Score Verifier - John McC.
Range Officers - 
Target Changers - Tony L.,
Treats - Dan G.
Photos - Darryl K.

RESULTS - CENTERFIRE BENCHREST:

Dan G. -   100/6X       100/9X       100/7X = 300/22X (30BR)
John McC. - 100/2X     100/8X     100/4X = 300/18X (30BR)
Malcolm McA. - 100/3X    100/5X    98/4X = 298/12X (6mmBR)
Becky McC. - 100/2X      99/2X      99/1X = 298/5X (6mmBR)
Darryl K. -   98/2X      98/4X      100/5X = 296/11X (6mmBR)
Matt A. -   97/3X      99/3X      100/3X = 296/9X (6 X 45)
Tony L. -  93/0X      98/2X      96/1X = 287/3X (6mmBR)

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

MAY 12, 2026 - MINTO - RANGE OFFICER TRAINING COURSE

It turned out to be a pretty nice day for our Range Officer Training Course. The weather cooperated in that it was overcast but did not rain. It was a bit windy and a bit cool for May in New Brunswick - about 12C.

The trainer was Steven Stewart, the range development person and trainer, of the Royal New Brunswick Rifle Association. Steven leaned on his vast experience locally, provincially and nationally as a shooter and range officer to instruct us, in a relaxed way, to carry out the main function of a Range Officer, which is "to help the shooter or competitor enjoy and complete the shoot safely".

The group of trainees were 5 members of the Minto Gun Club. More had been expected but could not make it for various reasons. 


Steven spent about an hour talking about the steps involved in organising a successful shoot and the role of Range Officers. Considering the trend in today's shooting world, he used many good examples of how we need to be sensitive to the needs of our aging shooters and competitors. More specifically, hearing difficulties (especially with ear defenders), visual difficulties and short term memory problems need to be taken into account when issuing range commands. A good deal of patience is often required.

It became clear that range officer and range commands are specific to the type of shooting that is being done. However, general commands include 
1. a range/course of fire briefing, 
2. a command to go to the firing line, 
3. a command to set up equipment, 
4. a command to bring the firearm to the firing line, 
5. a command to make ready, 
6. to ascertain all shooters are ready, 
7. a command to fire, 
8. to make sure all shooters have completed the course of fire, 
9. a command to cease firing (or to "STOP!" in a dangerous situation), 
10. to make sure all firearms are unloaded and are clear,
11. a command to rack the firearms. 
The range officer is further responsible for the safety of all persons going forward to the targets by ensuring that no firearms are transported to the firing line/benches.

A very important principle is to issue commands clearly, simply, loudly and to make sure shooters know what it is you want them to do.

Sunday, May 10, 2026

MAY 10, 2026 - MINTO - CENTERFIRE BR - OPEN/SPORTER

It was a rather miserable day for a shoot in Minto. The temperature started out at a cool 10C and by the end of the match it had increased to a whopping 12C. In addition, it was overcast and it rained off and on throughout the day. Of course, we endured the famous Minto winds which ranged from 0km/hr to maybe 30km/hr and from the 9:00 o'clock direction predominantly, to from any other direction especially those you least expect.

Thanks to Wayne K., the clubhouse was nice and warm as he had started a fire long before the rest of the shooters had arrived. Come to think of it, for most of the shoots I've been to in the last 10 years, Wayne has had a fire going in the stove and the clubhouse has been warm and cozy. Many thanks Wayne, for doing this for us.

PEOPLE TO THANK:
Match director - Bert deV.
Scorers and verifiers - David C. and Bert deV.
Range Officers - Don M. and Wayne K.
Target Changers - David C., Guy H. and Conrad L.
Coffee and cookies - David C.

RESULTS - CENTERFIRE BR - OPEN CLASS:
Bert deV. - 99/5X     100/5X     100/7X = 299/17X (22BR)
David C. - 98/4X     99/3X     100/6X = 297/15X (30 BR)
Don M. - 97/1X     97/1X     100/4X = 294/6X (30BR)  

RESULTS - CENTERFIRE BR - SPORTER CLASS:
Guy H. - 50/4X     49/3X     47/1X = 146/8X (223 Win)
Bert deV. - 46/0X     47/1X     47/3X = 140/4X (308 Win)
Wayne K. - 46/0X     44/0X     46/1X = 136/1X (223 Win)
Conrad L. - 35/1X     44/0X     49/2X = 128/3X (223 Win)

Sunday, May 3, 2026

MAY 3, 2026 - PETITCODIAC - RIMFIRE BR

Many thanks to Volker T. for the results and write-up, and to Darryl K. for the pics.

Today was a better day than the last shoot at Petticodiac when stands were blowing over. Skies were overcast and the winds from the SE and SW were light with instances of almost no wind. The temperature stayed around 8-9C. Shooters tried to take advantage of that condition and as a result, there were 6 clean match scores shot. The X count was the deciding factor. In addition there were 16 clean target sheets shot. WOW!

Congratulations are due to Gerald D. who shot the winning score of 500/33X. Congrats also to Dale H. with a score of 500/26X, Bruce B. with 500/22X, Chris S. with 500/20X, John McC. with 500/20X and Grant H. with 500/18X

PEOPLE TO THANK:
Match director: Volker T.
Scorer: Volker T.
Score verifier: Dan G.
Range Officers: Chris S. and Grant H.
Targets changers: Chris S., Dan G., Grant H. and John McC.
Sweets: Bruce B. and Dan G.
Photos: Darryl K.

RESULTS - RIMFIRE BR:
Shooter   Target Sheet #1  Target Sheet #2   Total
Gerald D.        250/20X              250/13X     = 500/33X
Dale H.            250/10X              250/16X     = 500/26X
Bruce B.         250/11X              250/11X      = 500/22X
Chris S.          250/12X              250/8X        = 500/20X
John McC.      250/10X              250/10X      = 500/20X
Grant H.          250/8X                250/10X      = 500/18X
Wayne LeB.    249/14X              250/14X      = 499/28X
John M.           248/10X              250/16X      = 498/26X
Darryl K.         246/8X                 250/8X        = 496/16X
Richard M.      242/5X                250/6X         = 492/11X
Dan G.             237/4X                244/6X         = 481/10X
Kevin C.          227/0X                236/0X         = 463/0X