2014 Results

2014 Match Summary	James Vick
Match Attended:	Oklahoma Practical Shooters – Shoot for the Green (OPPS SFTG)
Date:	March 15 & 16, 2014
Location:	near Woodward, Oklahoma
Weather during match:	20 – 50 degrees, variable winds from 5 – 30 mph
DA:	1000 – 3000 ft Equivilent
Placement	27th / 58 shooters
Rifle:	Remington 700, chambered in 6mm Competition Match, AI AX Chassis
Scope:	US Optics ER-25 5-25 x 58mm, GAP Reticle
Load:	Win 243 brass, 44 grains of H1000, 105 grain Berger Hybrids
High Points for Match:	Positional shooting, shooting off of sticks, MIL ranging targets
Improvement Goals:	Break down values/holds for 10+mph in quartering winds with variable vectors
Equipment Improvements:	Lighter rain/wind gear is a must.
Next Match:	2014 Vortex Lone Star Challenge in Frost, Texas

Match Summary	James Vick
Match Attended:	2014 Vortex Lone Star Challenge
Date:	April 5 & 6, 2014
Location:	Frost, Texas (East of Hillsboro)
Weather during match:	Saturday – Sunny and 65 degrees, mild winds less than 10 mph.
	Sunday – Hail, heavy rain, 15 – 20 mph winds
DA:	500 to 1500
Placement	48th
Rifle:	Remington 700, chambered in 6mm Competition Match, AI AX Chassis
Scope:	US Optics ER-25 5-25 x 58mm, GAP Reticle
Load:	Win 243 brass, 44 grains of H1000, 105 grain Berger Hybrids
High Points for Match:	Moving targets.  The match had a mover set up at roughly 500 yds. that only moved 120 ft. or so.  The shortness of the mover and the three hostage targets placed in front of it made it very difficult to engage the mover while not hitting the hostage.  8 hits out of 10 in 1 minute 30 seconds isn’t too bad.
Improvement Goals:	Find a method of dealing with heavy mirage and the effects it has on what you see in your scope vs. where the target really is.
Equipment Improvements:	Need better rain gear
Next Match:	2014 Rocky Mountain Steel Quest in Douglas, WY

Match Summary
Match Attended:	2014 Rocky Mountain Steel Quest – Competition Dynamics
Date:	April 12 & 13, 2014
Location:	Douglas, Wyoming
Weather during match:	Saturday – 65 degrees, sunny, winds from 5 to 10 mph
	Sunday – 20 degrees, blowing snow, white out conditions
DA:	4000 to 6000
Placement	3rd
Rifle:	Remington 700, chambered in 6mm Competition Match, AI AX Chassis, TBAC 30P-1
Handgun:	Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm
Scope:	US Optics ER-25 5-25 x 58mm, GAP Reticle
Load:	Win 243 brass, 45 grains of H1000, 105 grain Berger Hybrids
High Points for Match:	The whole match.  These might be one of the only matches where the match goes on regardless of the weather.  Sunday blizzard shooting was a true test of everyone’s equipment – triggers froze, bolts stuck, optics frosted up and laser range finders quit working – truly unbelievable.  Huge kudos to all that stuck it out.  It is pretty rewarding to knock the snow off of targets that either were not found or had not been hit.
Improvement Goals:	Practice with the time limit of 5 minutes.  It is truly amazing how much time you spend looking for targets.  Time to get out the kitchen timer.
Equipment Improvements:	Try to find a deal on a good crew served laser range finder that has power to cut through a white out blizzard.  Round count on the 6 Comp Match is getting up past 2000 rds. – time to start working up a load for the new 6 Creedmoor.
Next Match:	2014 New Mexico Precision Rifleman’s Championship in Albuquerque, NM

Match   Summary
Match Attended:	2014 New Mexico   Precision Rifleman’s Championship
Date:	April 26 & 27,   2014
Location:	Albuquerque, New   Mexico
Weather during match:	Miserably Hot and   30-60 mph wind
DA:	7000-8000
Placement	26th
Rifle:	Remington 700,   chambered in 6mm Competition Match, AI AX Chassis, TBAC 30P-1
Handgun:	Smith and Wesson   M&P 9
Scope:	US Optics ER-25 5-25 x   58mm, GAP Reticle
Load:	Win 243 brass, 45   grains of H1000, 105 grain Berger Hybrids
High Points for Match:	I shot well on the   first day and was in contention for the top 10.  Day 2 was a different story – nothing could   go right, the weather, my focus….nothing was working.
Improvement Goals:	Work   on my Mental Management.  I outlined what mental and physical things   steps I got through to get ready to shoot.    For example: As you approach the line; 1.  make sure the scope caps are open, 2.  I have the magnification dialed appropriate   for the distance I am shooting, 3. I have my dope, 4. magazine is inserted   and the first round is sitting properly in the magazine and not wedged under   the feed ramp, 5. bolt is all the way back engaging the top base of the first   round, 6. bipod legs are up or down and adjusted.   This also applies to the checklist to run   through when things are not going as planned.
Equipment Improvements:	Need a well built,   easy to remove and put on rifle cover to keep the sand and dust out of the   action and trigger.  This match was   certainly one of the most extreme conditions I have ever shot in.
Next Match:	2014 Snipers Hide Cup

Match   Summary
Match Attended:	2014 Sniper’s Hide Cup
Date:	May 23, 24 & 25, 2014
Location:	Fort Morgan, Colorado
Weather during match:	70-80’s
DA:	7000-8000
Placement	12th
Rifle:	Remington 700,   chambered in 6mm Creedmoor, AI AX Chassis, TBAC 30P-1
Handgun:	Smith and Wesson   M&P 9
Scope:	US Optics ER-25 5-25 x   58mm, GAP Reticle
Load:	Hornady 6 Creedmoor,   40.8 grains of H4350, 105 grain Berger Hybrids
High Points for Match:	The Snipers Hide Cup   is one of the largest drawing matches in the country.  I got to meet new shooters from all over   the US.
Improvement Goals:	Continue to work on   positional sling shooting.  There is no   easy fix for this other than practice, dry fire practice after work and   spending time behind the gun at the range in the sling.
Equipment Improvements:	Wore out my last   barrel shooting the 6 Competition Match.    Made the decision to switch to the 6 Creedmoor and so far it has been   the best decision ever.  I had to fire   form 6 Competition Match from Winchester 243 brass.  This was labor intensive and also used up   valuable barrel life.  Hornady makes   headstamped 6 Creedmoor brass – simply load and shoot!
Next Match:	2014 Steel Safari

Match   Summary
Match Attended:	2014 Steel Safari
Date:	June 6, 7 & 8,   2014
Location:	Logan, New Mexico
Weather during match:	Low 90’s
DA:	7000-8000
Placement	3rd
Rifle:	Remington 700,   chambered in 6mm Creedmoor, AI AX Chassis, TBAC 30P-1
Scope:	US Optics ER-25 5-25 x   58mm, GAP Reticle
Load:	Hornady 6 Creedmoor,   40.8 grains of H4350, 105 grain Berger Hybrids
High Points for Match:	Arguably the hardest individual precision rifle match in the country.  There are no teams, no one to look to if   things start to bad.  It’s just the   ultimate 3 day test of yourself, your preparation and your gear.
Improvement Goals:	All together I put   together 3 great days of shooting.  I   did slip and allow 5 stages on the last day to get the better of me.  Looking back at the scores I was only 2   points off the high score for that course.    Regardless – mental mistakes on the West course kept me out of a 1st   place finish.  It took me 5 stages   before I was able to reset my mental management and shoot the last few stages   well.
Equipment Improvements:	My PRS tripod kit   included the Slik tripod – it’s been rode hard for thousands of rounds – it   finally gave up. Upgraded to new Manfrotto 190Xpro.  Being a new piece of equipment I found   myself struggling to adjust it throughout the match.
Next Match:	Cross C Ranch   Rifleman’s Round-Up

Match   Summary
Match Attended:	Cross C Ranch   Rifleman’s Round-Up
Date:	June 21 & 22, 2014
Location:	Wheatland, Wyoming
Weather during match:	Awesome!  70’s and 5-15 mph winds
DA:	8000-9500
Placement	4th
Rifle:	Remington 700,   chambered in 6mm Creedmoor, AI AX Chassis, TBAC 30P-1
Scope:	US Optics ER-25 5-25 x   58mm, GAP Reticle
Load:	Hornady 6 Creedmoor,   40.8 grains of H4350, 105 grain Berger Hybrids
High Points for Match:	The match was held on   a private ranch 40 minutes from Wheatland.    This was one of the most well run and smoothest matches I have ever   attended.  The scenery was amazing and   the match directors took advantage of it in every stage they set up.  One particular stage we shot from a ridge   top through, across and down a valley from 500 to 1100 yds with every target   having different wind problems.
Improvement Goals:	Took 4th amongst some   great friend and several of the best shooters in the country.  I gave away several easy shots on my very   first stage on the very first day  –   got to figure a way to set myself up to not give away points on the   “easy” stages.
Equipment Improvements:	Everything came   together perfectly for this match.  I   have decided to go back to the Harris Bipods.    The Atlas has been great and definitely has some very nice features   but the ease in which it will pan/cant itself regardless of how tight you   keep will throw shots if you are not paying attention to it.  The Harris will not.
Next Match:	Silencerco Quiet Riot

Match   Summary
Match Attended:	Silencerco Quiet Riot
Date:	June 28 & 29, 2014
Location:	West Valley City, Utah
Weather during match:	80’s with 5-20 mph   winds
DA:	9000-10000
Placement	2nd
Rifle:	Remington 700,   chambered in 6mm Creedmoor, AI AX Chassis, TBAC 30P-1
Scope:	US Optics ER-25 5-25 x   58mm, GAP Reticle
Load:	Hornady 6 Creedmoor,   40.8 grains of H4350, 105 grain Berger Hybrids
High Points for Match:	My best finish ever in   a National level match!!  And while I   kept track of my score I didn’t once dwell on any one stage and the points I   got or left in the field….until I finished shooting my last stage.  When I wrote down that last score I have   never been so nervous – I was right there at the top and it was going to come   down to waiting on the match director to tally everything up and read it out   during the awards.  What a feeling!
Improvement Goals:	Keep practicing and   reinforcing what I’ve been doing.    Things are clicking.
Equipment Improvements:	The tripod head I got   is not sturdy enough for a 15 lb rifle.    Need to find something I can lock down tight and it won’t move.
Next Match:	GAP Grind PRO-AM

 

Match Summary
Match Attended:	GAP Grind PRO-AM
Date:	August 29, 30 & 31, 2014
Location:	Baker, Florida
Weather during match:	Hot and Humid, mid to high 90’s, high humidity
DA:	1000-1500
Placement	Pro Division 24th, Team 36th
Rifle:	Remington 700, chambered in 6mm Creedmoor, AI AX Chassis, Impact Precision Muzzle Brake
Scope:	US Optics ER-25 5-25 x 58mm, GAP Reticle
Load:	Hornady 6 Creedmoor, 40.8 grains of H4350, 105 grain Berger Hybrids
High Points for Match:	This match was quite a bit different than the others.  This is was a Pro Am Team Match.  Pro Shooters and Amateurs were paired together for the entire match.  We all shot the same courses of fire however we worked together to solve all the stage problems.  I was very lucky to be paired with  a local LEO Sniper who did not have any competitive match experience.  He was a great team mate and shot well on his own right.  This match was a great step in bringing the Long Range Precision Rifle Sport to the masses.
Improvement Goals:	Practice more with the sling on barricades.
Equipment Improvements:	Look into building a flat brace on the bottom of the AX chassis for barricades.
Next Match:	Surefire PRS Match hosted by Mike Voigt

Match Summary
Match Attended:	Surefire/Voigt Match
Date:	September 13 & 14, 2014
Location:	Keene, California
Weather during match:	Sunny, High 80’s – low 90’s
DA:	1500-2500
Placement	7th
Rifle:	Remington 700, chambered in 6mm Creedmoor, AI AX Chassis, Impact Precision Muzzle Brake
Scope:	US Optics ER-25 5-25 x 58mm, GAP Reticle
Load:	Hornady 6 Creedmoor, 40.8 grains of H4350, 105 grain Berger Hybrids
High Points for Match:	Fantastic venue and course of fire.  One of the longer distance matches I have attended this year.  One stage had us shooting out to a mile on 2′ x 3′ plate…only 4  of the 71 shooters hit that plate.  I was the first shooter to get the MGM spinner to fully rotate with my M&P 9MM.  Really enjoyed the match – knowing the 2015 PRS Championship Match would be held at this venue.  My 7th place finish put me in 8th place in the overall points race going into the 2014 Championship Match.
Improvement Goals:	Just get ready for the 2014 Championship at the Rifle Ranch in Texas.
Equipment Improvements:	Nothing – everything is working well and ready to go for the finals.
Next Match:	2014 Precision Rifle Series Championship Match

Match Summary
Match Attended:	2014 Vortex Lone Star Challenge
Date:	April 5 & 6, 2014
Location:	Frost, Texas (East of Hillsboro)
Weather during match:	High 80’s, humid
DA:	1000-1500
Placement	56th
Rifle:	Remington 700, chambered in 6mm Creedmoor, AI AX Chassis, Impact Precision Muzzle Brake
Scope:	US Optics ER-25 5-25 x 58mm, GAP Reticle
Load:	Hornady 6 Creedmoor, 40.8 grains of H4350, 105 grain Berger Hybrids
High Points for Match:	This is hard to write.  All the work this year was to culminate at this years Championship Match.  I was ranked 8th overall headed in and was anticipating a hard fought match.  Everything was ready to go – I thought I was ready….and BAM…wheels come off on practice day.  Rifle was 0.8 mils low at 400 yds, rifle would not hold a group…nothing went right.  I tried to chalk it up to pre match jitters, however as my start time came and I started the course….it became clear the barrel was shot out and loosing velocity with every round.  It was a disappointing finish to the year I felt I had really dedicated a lot time to training and preparing for this match.  I laugh about it now but there is still a “what if” that comes and goes.  I’ll have to carry that through the down time and put it behind me before we start the 2015 season.
Improvement Goals:	When the stakes are the biggest – do not go into a match with a barrel at the end of its useful life.
Equipment Improvements:	Anticipating a new Patriot Defense Rifle for the 2015 Season.  With Patriot Defense debuting their new actions paired with a Hart Barrel chambered in 6 Creedmoor, new 2014 Accuracy International AX Chassis and Jewel Trigger.  Its going to be a hammer!!
Next Match:	Most likely the OPPS Shoot for the Green in March of 2015