First shooting competition!

[[mXm] andy19]

Well, I said in my last post that one of the reasons I bought the SKS was because of a seasonal milsurp shooting competition, and yesterday my club posted the next date - May 4th.
I've really only shot the SKS twice, and once since I bought it, but I've been shooting decent 4" group @ 100 yards with first and only 5 shots last time.
I'm hoping in the next few weeks I'll be at the range at least once a week practicing.
Here's what the competition entails:

Ninth Annual EOSC Spring Milshoot

Saturday May 4:

10:00-2:00 - Military
2:00-2:30 - "Mad Minute"
2:30-3:00 - Award Ceremony

Matches go Rain or Shine. Spectators welcome.

Cost:

Military - donation to the Bourget Food Bank
Mad Minute - no charge

Event Descriptions (permitted firearms and courses of fire):


For the Military Rifle Match:

Permitted Rifles

Only unmodified milsurps of WWII or earlier design with iron sights may be used - no "bubbas" or sniper guns (they have their own category). Must be as issued, full military wood & sights, no exceptions. Based on this definition, for example a 1950's Garand, Mosin M44, Irish contract No4 MkII and Spanish Mauser bolt gun are in, but the FN-49, and a scoped, Mojo'd or peep-sighted Yugo 24/47 are out. SKS's are permitted - all variants including Norinco "clones", but they must be in original military configuration - "not pimped out". If you are not sure if your gun qualifies, please ask. Sling use is permitted and encouraged.

Course of Fire – Military Rifle

There will be four stages of 10 rounds each at 100 yards, and one stage of 10 rounds at 200 yards for a total of five stages. Three minutes is allotted for the 10 rounds (including reloading) at 100 yds, five minutes for the 200 yd event:

At 100 yards

- 10 standing;
- 10 kneeling or sitting;
- 10 prone;
- 10 snap (five second "exposure", followed by 10 second "hidden"); and

At 200 yards

- 10 freestyle. Shooter may choose any safe position of their choice, but may not employ shooting aids, such as shooting sticks, bipods and rests of any kind (other than your own body).

Each shooter will fire a total of 50 shots with a maximum possible score of 500.
The targets used will be the Shooting Federation of Canada 50 yard slow fire pistol target.

No spotting scopes or spotters calling out shots is permitted.

For the Mad Minute

Permitted Rifles

Any rifle eligible for the Military Match.

Course of Fire

Standing at 200 yds. 10 shots in one minute (including reloading). Target will be the 11/59 "Charging Man". Scores out of 100. See bottom of post for picture and scoring scheme.

"Mad Minute" Target and Scoring

Target is life sized (1.125 metres high by 450 mm wide) "Charging Man" Fig 11/59 target. Scores are: 10 (two inner rectangles); 5 (next outer rectangle); 4 (anywhere on body): and 0 anywhere else.

[[mXm] andy19]

I'm really looking forward to this, but as a first timer I'm really just aiming to not be at the bottom of the score sheet. I really need to practice those 200 yard shots though, as I've only ever shot my SKS up to 100yrds.

[[mXm] BalzOnYer4Head]

At 200 hundred yards you have to worry about wind-age and elevation, but only slightly. For wind-age you want to pay attention to what the range flags are doing. If they are at full flap then the wind is blowing pretty hard, but at 200y it may only need a click or two.

Ive never shot an SKS before. But marksmanship principles for an assault rifle are standard. Adjust for said weapon. It takes time, and rounds down range to figure it out. Keep a range pad (probably an app for it) near ya, and record every shot. Notate wind conditions (something simple, I used a rectangle, triangle, and a pole) to notate high, medium , and null wind conditions. Also notate distance, wind-age and elevation settings, and of course shot placement.

Sounds tedious, and it is, especially in the beginning, but it will help you learn what you're doing, and when you get to competitions, you will know what to do when you fire a great shot, and it clips dead right of the outer bull ring. Instead of panicking, you will calmly make your adjustment, based on youre previous experience, from doing it while practicing.

I was super anal about my range notes. I was also 4th award Expert and Company high shooter every year, to include bootcamp. Call me if you have any questions, or if ya wanna go over any fundamentals. Be glad to help.

[[mXm] andy19]

I've been practicing my fundamentals since I got my little 22 bolt action a few months ago. I think I'm still flinching a bit anticipating recoil of the heavier caliber 7.62 round, but other than that I think I have my breathing down fairly steady and I know how get a good sight picture, have a good consistent rearward trigger squeeze and whatnot.
The problem is there are no 'clicks' for elevation/windage adjustments on an SKS. It's a spring-loaded rear sight with markings for Battle-100-1000 markings. Battle @ 300 yards, then 100-1000 yards.
That would be great if they were actually sighted in properly. I was practicing last weekend at 100 yards, shooting at a target while resting on a bench, and hitting 24 inches lower.
I've used the exact same SKS (literally, I bought the same rifle from my co-worker) and hit a 5" group in the same position at the same distance. Not sure if the sights were at the same setting or not though, since I didn't pay attention to it back then, but I know I used the same sight alignment. Top front post meets top rear sights, aligned center of target, shoot. All my shots hit 24" low, not just a few.

Anyways, I'm going back this weekend to see what the battle setting on the sights give me. Looking up 7.62x39 123gr. ammo a 24" drop looks pretty damn close to 300 yards when sighted in at 100.

Still a couple more weeks of practice before the competition.

I appreciate the help, and I'll be sure to ask any questions I have.

Edit: Also, there are no range flags Not sure if they'll put some up during the competition, but normally there are none.

[[mXm] FlyersFan]

I don't know anything about guns so all I can add to this thread is "good luck".