R
Rob B
Guest
Hello all, I'm afraid I've been absent from the game for longer than intended due to some chronic health problems, but I think I have something that may be of interest to shooters in or near Georgia.
Before I forget to put it in, here's one link to the place I'm about to discuss:
Ole Mill Range
This is the 4H range where I take my daughter, and over the past 3 years progress on the facility has been impressive, given the limited resources available in both money and volunteer time. If you look at the blueprint in the link, it shows the range pretty much in it's present state, with some work remaining to be done on the 50 foot smallbore line, and the 50 meter line is one of the last major hurdles that is being worked on now. Construction is coming along, but as we do it as help is available, I cannot give a date certain on the completion of the 50 meter range.
I've discussed the possibility for several years of opening the range to benchrest shooters, either for scheduled practice days/ammo testing or actual matches. This past weekend, since the end is beginning to be in sight of the part of the range that would interest people on this forum, I had another talk with Roy McClain, who is responsible in large part for making this whole thing happen and is a driving force in the program.
He is still very receptive to other disciplines making use of the range, as long as it is not in conflict with scheduled events. As we talked about what would be needed to make the place agreeable to the rimfire benchrest crowd, we hit upon several key issues:
1) Benches have to be moveable. I think I have a design that will work fine, with steel structure and concrete tops. But the materials have to come from somewhere, and somebody will have to build the things.
2) Help will be needed to make this happen. Roy is requesting labor to help finish the 50 meter traps, but as many who may be interested aren't within easy "show up for half of a Saturday" distance, alternative suggestions are welcome at this point.
3) The main function of the range is to train shooters to prepare them for collegiate and international competition, beginning with BB gun competition and moving up through sporter and precision airgun, and smallbore. This means there is no "slush fund" or anything to set up a benchrest program just because I think it's neat. Again, the facility is receptive, but it can't be a losing proposition for them.
OK, here's the part where you really need to pay attention. Roy requested that I gather interested shooters for a visit where anyone that's interested could see the facilities and offer suggestions as to what is needed to make it a useful place for benchrest. I think this is a very good idea, and is the main point of this post. Thus, I would like to hear about general interest in using this facility, and specifically would like to hear about who is willing to come take a look and see about setting a date that is as accommodating as possible. Topics that would be covered in such a meeting would be: range suitability, bench design, fees agreeable to all, and everything else I'm forgetting.
FWIW, our next large match is set for Friday, November 28 & Saturday, November 29. I will be in attendance all day Saturday since my daughter is competing in two disciplines that day should anyone want to stop by then. I could also be available during the Friday afternoon events if someone was in the area that day, though at this point I'm not scheduled to be there.
So, there it is. Let me know what y'all think of the whole idea, and we'll see how it works out. And BTW, if anyone does come looking for me on that Saturday, I look a bit different now. I tried that flat top haircut like Deese, but decided it was just too scruffy and shaved it all off.
Thanks,
Rob Black
Before I forget to put it in, here's one link to the place I'm about to discuss:
Ole Mill Range
This is the 4H range where I take my daughter, and over the past 3 years progress on the facility has been impressive, given the limited resources available in both money and volunteer time. If you look at the blueprint in the link, it shows the range pretty much in it's present state, with some work remaining to be done on the 50 foot smallbore line, and the 50 meter line is one of the last major hurdles that is being worked on now. Construction is coming along, but as we do it as help is available, I cannot give a date certain on the completion of the 50 meter range.
I've discussed the possibility for several years of opening the range to benchrest shooters, either for scheduled practice days/ammo testing or actual matches. This past weekend, since the end is beginning to be in sight of the part of the range that would interest people on this forum, I had another talk with Roy McClain, who is responsible in large part for making this whole thing happen and is a driving force in the program.
He is still very receptive to other disciplines making use of the range, as long as it is not in conflict with scheduled events. As we talked about what would be needed to make the place agreeable to the rimfire benchrest crowd, we hit upon several key issues:
1) Benches have to be moveable. I think I have a design that will work fine, with steel structure and concrete tops. But the materials have to come from somewhere, and somebody will have to build the things.
2) Help will be needed to make this happen. Roy is requesting labor to help finish the 50 meter traps, but as many who may be interested aren't within easy "show up for half of a Saturday" distance, alternative suggestions are welcome at this point.
3) The main function of the range is to train shooters to prepare them for collegiate and international competition, beginning with BB gun competition and moving up through sporter and precision airgun, and smallbore. This means there is no "slush fund" or anything to set up a benchrest program just because I think it's neat. Again, the facility is receptive, but it can't be a losing proposition for them.
OK, here's the part where you really need to pay attention. Roy requested that I gather interested shooters for a visit where anyone that's interested could see the facilities and offer suggestions as to what is needed to make it a useful place for benchrest. I think this is a very good idea, and is the main point of this post. Thus, I would like to hear about general interest in using this facility, and specifically would like to hear about who is willing to come take a look and see about setting a date that is as accommodating as possible. Topics that would be covered in such a meeting would be: range suitability, bench design, fees agreeable to all, and everything else I'm forgetting.
FWIW, our next large match is set for Friday, November 28 & Saturday, November 29. I will be in attendance all day Saturday since my daughter is competing in two disciplines that day should anyone want to stop by then. I could also be available during the Friday afternoon events if someone was in the area that day, though at this point I'm not scheduled to be there.
So, there it is. Let me know what y'all think of the whole idea, and we'll see how it works out. And BTW, if anyone does come looking for me on that Saturday, I look a bit different now. I tried that flat top haircut like Deese, but decided it was just too scruffy and shaved it all off.
Thanks,
Rob Black
