91 points out of 100 on my premiere at MLAIC competition

Last Sunday early morning, February 6th, 2011, at the Carregueira shooting range (Belas, Sintra, Portugal) I made it to my "première" at the first 2011 National match for black powder muzzle loading shooting (MLAIC).

I competed within the Kuchenreuter class (percussion pistol), with my custom Billinghurst made in Germany by Tilo Dedinski in .36 caliber, shooting 10 grains of FFF "Rio" black powder and using .36 round bullets (.354, 65 gr), cotton patches (24mm in diameter, and 0,24mm thickness) and lube made in Germany by Rifle Bullet Caster .

I scored 91 / 100 points and finished 6th within 17 competitors (tied with 5th on the same score, but with less "X" hits). I'm very, very proud with my result - in particular bearing in mind that a score of 94 grants the "master shooter" award, and that João Costa, current national record holder (99 / 100), scored 94 at this same match. Further more - this is the same score I reached on my best training session, so... let's keep up and focus !

91 score - target on the right was the first, target on the left was the second and last
Final score ditches the worst 3 impacts out of the 13, and sums up the best 10

My "shooting desk"... all tidy

My vintage chrono... made in the USSR, 1960-70s

My detailed score

The official national match poster
- my amateur design and production

+200 photo gallery at: http://www.cptpp.com/gallery/2011/index-20110206-i-cn-mlaic-carregueira.html

9,1 average and 5th place on iron sights 50 meter .22LR rifle match

With my loved vintage (1970s) original J. G. Anschutz 1400 .22 LR rifle, shooting standing, iron sights, ISSF precision target at 50 meters, I reached 5th place overall (14 shooters from 3 different clubs), with an average score of 9,1 out of 10 (363 / 400 points, 2x20 series, 40 impacts overall), on last Sunday, January 31st, 2011, at the "open" match held at Carregueira, Belas, Sintra (Portugal). For the first time I used a left eye blinder, on Varga 2000 frames - with great result: sights easier to acquire, more "crispy" and so much easier on eye muscle strain.

My vintage JGA 1400 .22LR rifle
along LAPUA X-ACT and AKAH X-TRAINER ("canned") ammo

Varga 2000 rifle shooting frames
(just using as a left blinder holder; no iris)

Unofficial overall scores
363 out of 400 and 5th out of 14

My first 20 impact series...

Photo gallery: http://www.cptpp.com/gallery/2011/index-20110130-carabinarecreio-tac-cptpp-carregueira.html

521 points at SCP ISSF Air Pistol Tournament

Even facing a broken side frame of my Varga shooting glasses (that caused more mental disturbance then real physical handicap), I managed to score 521 / 600 points at the SCP - "Sporting Clube de Portugal" ISSF 10 meter air pistol match part of the "Rui Ramalho" Tournament, at Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - held this Saturday, January 29th, 2011, early morning.

The last series, with 90 / 100, was the true "miracle worker" that helped me to get over the 520 barrier - and to compensate for the mediocre 82 score on the first series (with three hits on the 7 mark... shame). The 4th and 6th series, with 89 and 90, proved that with a better "on sights" stance and a shorter "decision time" the 10s are... "easy" - also after a lot of "denial" I end up giving a 3 up "click" on the vertical sights... and yes (!) the low impacts are gone.

My Morini 162 EI air pistol along with Peltor mufflers and H&N pellets

521 / 600 - score details

My ISSF 10meter air pistol scores from 2007 to Jan 2011

522 points - 2011 first ISSF air pistol match

Last Sunday, January 16th, 2001 I scored 522 / 600 on the Portuguese Shooting Federation " Opening Tournament ", ISSF Air Pistol 10 meter match. With no separation for 1st and 2nd division, and a National scope, I reached 24th among 41 competitors. Match was held at the Jamor shooting range (Oeiras, Portugal).

You can find multimedia coverage at the following links: photos (+100): http://www.cptpp.com/gallery/2011/index-20110116-torneio-abertura-pac-fpt-jamor.html and video (HD): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMt4H2dzYb8 - in the last chapter of this video report you can watch the automated process of target scoring - using Rika hardware and Soft Shot software.

I was modestly satisfied with my result (on my previous training, about 2 weeks ago, I scored 524 / 600) but with a lot of recurring  "homework" to take care - i.e., on systematic sights concentration, overall environment dissociation, and increased comfort on subconscious "free" shooting. I keep missing the 530 mark and I want to reach it this year really bad !

... line # 14... my "old" Morini and the rest of the "desk kit"

... detail on my Varga frames with Knobloch iris

details on my 522 / 600 score

overall match scores and ranks

92 points at Kuchenreuter training session

Just arrived from the Carregueira (Belas, Sintra, Portugal) shooting range where I managed to score 87 / 100 and 92 / 100 (my personal training record up to date) on "full match simulation training" at MLAIC's Kuchenreuter division - with my T. Dedinski's .36 Billinghurst hunder hammer muzzle loader black powder pistol - using 10 grains FFF loads ("Rio" brand) and .354 bullets from the Riflebulletcaster GmbH & Co.KG.

On the first 6 shot target (photo on the left) a trigger error forced me out of the black with a 6 hit mark on top - and then back to the two 7 hit marks down bellow (forcing me to correct "by wrist" - rookie's classical mistake). On the second 7 shot target (photo on the right) I found myself "back on track" and truly inspired - all impacts on the 9-10 ring. Final score, 92 / 100 is made with the 10 best out of 13 impacts. And 94 was "at reach" - since a "8 almost 9" on the first and a "9 almost 10" on the second where very close to gather 2 extra points on the final score...

What a way to celebrate the 100th shot with my new pistol and to overcome last week episode of "stuck in the barrel". Now let's see how will I handle the result under pressure on the first national match coming in approx. 2 months from now, February 6th, 2011 (that will take place at this same shooting range).

... the personalized 14k gold monogram

Close up on the "workbench" - RWS primers on bottom,
vintage russian "Azam" pocket chrono on top
and the luxus walnut griped "Billy" .36 on the right side