2022 MINI-PALMA .22 rifle 100 Yd MATCH DESCRIPTION

Match Director: Thang Doan—My phone is 775-856-9444 and email is thangdoan2010@gmail.com……If you have ANY questions, DO NOT HESITATE to call me and ASK!

NOTE: SOME this is new since 22 MAY 2022, so please read ALL the details for the differences. This is fairly detailed/long to try to make everything as clear as possible and to avoid confusion on the part of the shooters!

The maximum number of shooters that we can put on line in an event/match (using 2 relays of 12 shooters each) is 24 due to the number of targets we can put downrange and we will be using a “first come, first served” method of assigning shooter slots, which will be accomplished on the scheduled Mini-Palma days AT THE RANGE as shooters arrive to sign up.….so, if you want to be sure of having a space, PLEASE ARRIVE in a timely manner, as anyone arriving late MAY NOT have a slot available to them.

The course of fire will be challenging enough to promote growth, and enable graduation into other disciplines and/or classifications.

Any shooter that is deemed by the Match Director (or his/her designated assistant) to be not in compliance with line officer commands OR deemed to be acting in ANY unsafe manner may be DQ’d and removed from the firing line.

All unranked or new shooters begin their first match as “unclassified” shooters. Upon completing their first match, shooters will be placed in a class based upon their newly established scores for future matches as follows, but will NOT earn any sort of award in the their first match.

MINI-PALMA is basically a PRONE MATCH and will be so for all SLING shooters but some cases FTR. OPEN and F-OPEN shooters who are unable to assume the prone position due to physical limitations. Shooters in both OPEN and F-OPEN that desire to fire off of the PROVIDED benches may do so…the choice bong UP TO THE SHOOTER!. Anyone needing to fire off of a bench MUST PROVIDE/BRING THEIR OWN STOOL or CHAIR! 

· Basic Equipment:

Ear protection is mandatory and eye protection is HIGHLY recommended when either shooting OR when anywhere on the range (not including range parking area during firing periods.

OBIs (Open bolt indicators –sometimes called OCIs–Open Chamber Indicator)(OBI) must be used when your rifle is made safe and are available from the Match Director for $1.00 if you need one.

Any style rifle chambered for rim fire calibers .22 Short, Long and Long Rifle W/any SAFE trigger pull weight is allowed. We recommend having two magazines (or maybe three, depending upon each magazine’s capacity) if your rifle is magazine fed, but you CAN get by with only one. If there is any question about trigger pull weight/safety, the Match Director will make determination/allow/disallow a rifle as appropriate.

Binoculars or spotting scope, and chair if desired. Please DO BRING a spotting optic! Due to the small size of .22 caliber holes in the targets, a bare minimum magnification for the spotting optic will likely be 12 power, but around 15 to 20 is better.

45 rounds of ammunition required per match for record fire, plus optional rounds for sighters (unlimited sighters allowed on each of three stages)

Each shooter must bring/provide his/her own shooting or ground pads/pads if firing from the PRONE position, which will be on a CONCRETE or DIRT surface.

· Entry Fee (NOTE CHANGES):

FREE to all PVGC junior members, $15 adult members, $20 adult non-members, $5 junior non-members. A Junior is considered to be a person aged 12 years or less.

SCHEDULING:

For schedules: refer to the PVGC calendar for match calendar. Range Safety Briefing prior to any shots being fired is REQUIRED FOR ALL persons on the firing line at ANY TIME. ALL  PARTICIPANTS MUST BE PRESENT FOR SAFETY BRIEFING AND the MATCH BRIEFING prior to the match and those briefings WILL NOT BE REPEATED. We will do our best to begin the match promptly at about  08:30 AM upon completion of sign in, placing/servicing of targets and match conduct briefing. PLEASE ARRIVE IN A TIMELY MANNER, as time will not be spent covering safety or match conduct multiple times.

AWARDS:

Awards given will be OVERALL MATCH WINNER, and then 2 places in each class where there are at least 5 shooters and 1st, 2nd and 3rd if there are more than 8 shooters in the class. The overall MATCH WINNER recipient will NOT be awarded a 1st place ribbon—that person will receive ONLY the MATCH WINNER award and the “traveling trophy”. We will award a “High Junior” ribbon after each match. After each match there will be an OVERALL MATCH WINNER travelling trophy awarded (which must be brought back for the next match) and at the end of the season, this trophy will be PERMANENTLY awarded to the shooter with the highest average using his/her best FIVE scores.

· RIFLE CLASSES: PLEASE NOTE, AS classifications have been revised somewhat!

(1) SLING CLASS will be ONE RIFLE CLASSIFICATION with Only ONE SHOOTER Classification/Division. SLING Class Equipment: Unsupported ONLY and will be one class with NO shooter class divisions: Any iron, open or peep sighting system which provides a method of aiming or aligning two separate but visible sights, including tube sights and non-magnifying color filters and non-magnifying “red dot” sights. Artificial support of any kind is prohibited with only a sling, shooting jacket and gloves allowed. This class will be shot at the same Mini-Palma targets as we shot in 2021.

(2) F-OPEN will be ONE RIFLE CLASSIFICATION with ONE SHOOTER Classification/Division and will be shot at F-OPEN mini-Palma targets from either BENCH OR PRONE position, as the shooter desires using F-Open Equipment: Any sighting system which includes a lens or system of lenses and an aiming reference or reticle at the focal plane of a lens or system of lenses, which may be either optically magnified or unmagnified. Artificial support of any kind (including “mechanical” rests) is allowed for front and rear of the rifle, but the two may NOT BE CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER. Bipods, sandbags and backpacks are allowed for front rests! This class will use the Mini-Palma F-OPEN target faces and they will be arranged with 12 bullsyes. (3 faces trimmed to fit our backers and then attached to one backer and frame)

(3) OPEN CLASSIFICATION will be ONE RIFLE CLASSIFICATION with ONE SHOOTER CLASSIFICATION/ DIVISION and will be shot at the same targets as we shot in 2021. Open Equipment: Any sighting system which includes a lens or system of lenses and an aiming reference or reticle at the focal plane of a lens or system of lenses, which may be either optically magnified or unmagnified. Artificial support of any kind (including “mechanical” rests) is allowed for front and rear of the rifle, but the two may NOT BE CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER. Bipods, sandbags and backpacks are allowed! This class will use the Mini-Palma target faces we used in 2021 that are printed with 6 bulleyes and attached to a backer and frame. Any shooter in OPEN rifle class who record a score of 440 or higher in this classification WILL BE reclassified into the F-OPEN class for future shoots, but any person that so desires MAY volunteer to be placed in the F-OPEN class regardless of their prior posted scores if they so desire.

(4) FTR CLASS is a Prone OR Bench RIFLE class (which position to use is up to the shooter). F-TR Class will be have THREE SHOOTER class divisions, which will be High MASTER, MASTER and SPORTSMAN. This class will use the Mini-Palma target faces we used in 2021 that are printed with 6 bulleyes and attached to a backer and frame.

High Master scores = 440 to 450

Master scores =  434 to 439.999

Sportsman scores  = 0 to 433.999

Any FTR shooter firing a score that qualifies him/her for the next higher classification WILL BE reclassified into the next higher class for future shoots, but any person that so desires MAY volunteer to be placed in a higher class regardless of their prior posted scores. Class movement downward will be done (ONLY upon shooter request) if/when that shooter’s scoring average falls into that lower class.

NOTE: ALL SHOOTERS are responsible for selecting their PROPER rifle AND shooter classification at the time of signing up for the match. A refernce sheet that shows what class each shooter has qulified for in previous matches WILL BE AVAILABLE at match sign-up time!!

EQUIPMENT for all FTR Classes: Any sighting system which includes a lens or system of lenses and an aiming reference or reticle at the focal plane of a lens or system of lenses, which may be either optically magnified or unmagnified. Front of the rifle may be supported by a “bipod” (which MUST be attached to the rifle),  backpack or “shooting sticks”, but  A FRONT REST MAY NOT BE A “MECHANICAL” REST such as a SEB Joypod. The rifle’s rear may be supported by a sandbag or other type of rear rifle rest.This class is intended to be for setups VERY SIMILAR to what one would carry and use on a hunting field trip. A rest or “bag” is allowed for the rear of the rifle, but the front and rear rests MAY NOT BE CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER. 

· COURSE OF FIRE DETAILS–ALL TARGETS are placed at 100 YARDS

Please arrive with your rifle previously zeroed for 100 yards as the only “practice period” will be the sighters included in the course of fire time limits. There will be a 3 minute preparation period in addition to the timed stages and will it only be used when there are SLING CLASS RIFLES ON THE LINE. 

For SLING, FTR and OPEN classes, each of three stages of fire will be shot at TWO of the six bulls on the targets as described in the MATCH BRIEFING. For F-OPEN class each of three stages will be fired at a set of 4 bullseyes from top to bottom with the top bull being for sighters and 5 shots being fired at each of the three remaining bulls below the sighter bull.

Stages will be timed as follows:

1st stage is 15 minutes total for unlimited sighters and then 15 shots for record;

2nd stage is 12 minutes total for unlimited sighters shots and then 15 shots for record.

3rd stage is 12 minutes total for unlimited sighters shots and then 15 shots for record. 

Please understand that each shooter should stand away from his/her rifle when they complete firing for each stage in order that the person running the line may see who is done and who is not done!. If everyone is DONE earlier that the time allotment allows, we will call a cease fire and then continue on to the next stage in the interest of reducing wasted time during the match.

If we have SLING CLASSIFICATION shooters participating, then three (3) minutes which will be a PREPARATION PERIOD will be added preceding the above time limits to allow those shooter to get into their equipment and positions.

NOTE: Shots at your sighter target may be fired at any time during the firing periods even if it is mid string of your 15 for record. The shooter MUST be sure that he/she fires 15 shots at his/her record target (in the case of F-OPEN there will be five (5) shots per bull—NO MORE, NO FEWER! If there are more, the shooter will get scored on the 15 (or 5 as dictated by rifle classes) lowest scoring hits and if there fewer than 15 (or 5 as dictated by rifle classes) , the shooter will be docked 10 points for each shot less than the required 15.

Stages are shot in the following order: Relay ONE (odd numbered targets) fires their stage ONE and then leaves the line, followed by relay 2 (even numbered targets) firing their stages ONE AND TWO and then leaving the line. Next, relay one fires their stages TWO and Three (completing their match) and then they leave the line, followed by relay TWO firing their THIRD stage, completing the match firing.

NOTE: For safety, rifles will be made safe and ONLY be moved to or removed from the firing line during firing periods or during the periods before the match or after the match is completed and then ONLY at the direction of the person controlling the firing line! NO ONE will EVER proceed down range of the firing line EXCEPT IN SPECIAL CASES for target repair when there are rifles present on the line and then only when all rifles are made safe and confirmed to be so by the RSO and all participants are behind the safety line!!!

SCORING

Scoring will be done by each shooter in conjunction with the neighboring target’s shooter and marked upon the target(s) along with the target number, shooter name and classification and RIFLE CLASSIFICATION, but will then be further checked by the scorekeeper(s) after the target face is removed and turned in to the scorekeeper(s) to ensure there are no errors in order to ensure that all scoring is “standard and fair” before being posted to the score tally sheets.

The possible max numerical score is 450 and the max possible “X” count is 45, so a perfect score would be recorded as 450-45X in ALL classes!!

Scoring will be marked as a score for each stage followed by the number of “X” ring hits thusly as an example for each stage and then totaled up for the match—“145-8X” near each set of 3 bullseyes (one score for each stage). Also, the shooter must record his/her SHOOTER and TARGET NUMBER ALONG WITH THE RIFLE CLASS AND SHOOTER”S CLASSIFICATION near the top of the target somewhere to enable the scorekeeper to record it for the correct shooter! Any argument by the shooter after a score correctness determination by the SCOREKEEPER is reached will be deemed to be unsportsmanlike conduct and will result in the shooter being disqualified from the match. This is NOT TO SAY that one can not ask about the score in the spirit of learning how scoring SHOULD BE DONE! Remember, if the round in question obviously “cuts” (NOT a “tear line”, but the hole in the target actually made by the passing of the bullet) the next higher scoring circle even though the main body of the hole is mostly in the lower circle, it counts as the higher score (including the “X” ring, which does count as a “10” when totaling scores!).

JUNIOR SHOOTERS

We enjoy having JUNIOR SHOOTERS present and participating, but for the safety of all personnel on the range, parents or legal guardians are responsible for and required to be in control of their Junior shooters AT ALL TIMES. 

CALIBER AND CARTRIDGES

ALLOWED CARTRIDGES:

      .22 Rim Fire calibers Short, Long and Long Rifle

PROHIBITED CARTRIDGES:

(1) Any ammunition that damages target holders or creates a hazard

(2) Steel core or armor piercing

(3) Tracer ammunition

(4) 22  MAGNUM (22WMR) If you have any question as to the suitability of any particular ammunition type/make/bullet style for this match, please ask the Match Director.