Thread: J M Wilkinson Shoots

Originally Posted by zimmer

@shooternz I shot 22rf silhouette at the Ararimu range for several years with the Small Game Shooters Club. Around 1988.

Nothing like silhouettes to deflate people. As you're well aware, either you get a "hit" or a big fat zero/miss. No 10, 9, 8 etc stuff.
We had visitors turn up with super flash gear, struggled to hit a silhouette, and never came back, which was a shame really, as that's inline with my performance when I started.

We alternated, which was good, silhouettes one shoot, paper (NZDA targets?) the next shoot. Paper was standing, kneeling, sitting, and prone, out to 100yds.
Couldn't do all positions and ranges in one day so cycled thru over several shoots to complete sequence.

Wish I could shoot as well now as I did then. Shot hunter class, 4x scope limit, Anschutz sporter.

Started with NZSGSA in Hamilton, used to travel around bit, shot Tokoroa before it is what it is now. Ended up shooting at Ararimu once I started work at Ardmore. I shot with a 541S Remington and a fixed 8x Leupold. The writing was on the wall when people with deeper pockets turned up with heavy barrelled Kimbers and 6.5 x 20 Leupolds.
I won the Small Game Nationals by 1 point with my Rem. Cant remember what range it was at.
I couldn't afford a spotter, .22 holes are fkn hard to see with fixed 8 power......
I remember leading the National after the first day in Napier, and hearing conversations about me , "who is this prick" etc.
First detail on Sunday morning was 75 yd prone., I had 10 shots in the 8,9, and bull. What I couldn't see was 3 shots into the black portion of the target into 2 and 3 ring. We all had bullet holders that had to be visible, with 10 rounds to be checked by the R.O.
The scorers accused me of every foul practise under the sun.....and took 3 bulls off me and counted the 2's and 3's. The target backing card showed to the bullets had come through on a slight angle, not from my position, but my left. They didn't want to hear about it. The Napier President was on my left.....
That left a bad taste, I was pretty young and wasn't up for a row.
Upside was Dad told Mum to Give me some birthday $ for a spotting scope.....

B