Promotional Posters for the Portuguese Shooting Federation Regionals and Nationals

Just finished and got published at the Portuguese Shooting Federation 3 promotional posters for the forthcoming National and Regional shooting competitions comprehending .45 ACP pistol and vintage (pre-1960) Portuguese military standard issue pistol and rifle (called "Armas de Ordenança" in Portuguese). All the posters were delivered pro bono.

"Armas de Ordenança"- Photo and composition (c) P. Mateus, 2011

"Pistola de Ordenança" - Photo and composition (c) P. Mateus, 2011

"Pistola Sport .45 ACP"
Photo by Stephen Z (Creative Commons). Composition by P. Mateus

Open sights at 300 meter with "Vergueiro" 8x57 rifle

Last Sunday, September 4th, 2011, at the Carregueira military shooting range, I made my first trial shoots for the Portuguese Shooting Federation rifle discipline of  "Ordenança", where only "vintage" (pre-1960) military rifles, with open sights / iron sights, that were used as standard issue by the Portuguese Armed Forces, are allowed to compete.

The target used is the standard precision rifle ISSF 300 meter target (the 10 points circle is 10 centimeters / approx. 4 inches width, and all folllowing score rings add the same distance - up to the final 1 point ring score). Current match rules are set for 40 shoots prone at 300 meter distance (approx. 328 yards).

ISSF Rifle Precision Target for 300 meters

My rifle is a true portuguese "vintage" classic - a DWM - Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken - "Vergueiro" 1904 model, with the official royal signs of King D. Carlos I, originally chambered for 6 x 58 and  military re-chambered for the 8 x 57 around World War II. This particular rifle is more then 100 years old and all original (stock included). Ammo used was 8 x 57 198 grains FMJ by FNM / INDEP, by the now extinct "Fábrica Nacional de Munições" (National Ammunition Factory, Portugal). Manufacturer’s declared velocity (at 15 meters) is 735 mps (approximately 2411 fps).

FNM 8x57mm IS , 7,92 Mauser, 198 Grains, FMJ,  - Made In Portugal
"Fábrica Nacional de Munições" (INDEP)

FNM 8x57mm IS cases - please note the "TARGET" marking 

The Vergueiro m/1904 in 8x57 - right side view

The Vergueiro m/1904 in 8x57 - left side view

Detail on the distinctive "straight" bold handle of the Vergueiro"
and, on the chamber top, the King D. Carlos I royal sign

Detail on the adjustable "ruler" for elevation
- with FNM 198 grains 8x57, position 4 for 300 meters

On 5 consecutive shoots I scored an average of 6,4 / 10 ... with a 4 point "flyer" to be blamed on a trigger "jerk" by the shooter. The series were: 9, 7, 6, 6 and 4 (total of 32 / 50). Not bad for a first trial - specially if compared with the last National, held 2008, were scores averaged around 6 to 7 points.

5 consecutive impacts - 300 meter  target, average 6,4 / 10

Scores from the 2008 Nationals
 - individual series of 10 shoots, average around 6 to 7 points

Hämmerli X-Esse, first shoots

My first shoots, last August 23rd, 2011, with my just acquired second hand ("as new") Hämmerli X-Esse, .22 LR pistol were very satisfying - with two impressives 48 / 50 scores at ISSF 25 meter precision shooting rules.

Hämmerli X-Esse with Lapua Pistol King - 25 meter ISSF precision

The first training session followed a mixed set of "precision" shooting rules (5 shoots series in 150 seconds) and "first stage velocity" (5 shoots series in 20 seconds). The results, using Lapua Pistol King ammo, .22 LR 40 grains, were:

Precision, 150 seconds, 5 x series / 50 points

43, 48, 48, 42, 41, 43

Average: 8,8 / 10

Velocity, 20 seconds, 5 x series / 50 points
42, 43, 47, 39, 46, 38
Average: 8,5 / 10

Overall score: 520 / 600
Overall average: 8,6

This specfic Hämmerli X-Esse is  the "standard" model, with 4 1/2 inch barrel, made in Switerzland. Trigger was adjusted to approx. 1300 grams pull height (via the internal adjustment screw) - ISSF regulations have a mininum setting of  1000 grams. You can find further details on the trigger adjustment procedure for this X-Esse, with a step-a-step photo guide, here >>  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qnHpiBlGX8

Trigger adjustment down to 1200-1300 grams

This X-Esse is the closest a "sport" pistol can get to "match grade" (without breaking any rule book, and, last but not least, within a very interesting budget). First, the grip is wonderful for the classic single hand ISSF 25 meter shooting stance - ambidextrous, with a pronounced beaver and with a roundish large-enough and well textured grip (partial stippling-like on the front and back). Strong grip adherence texture and great overall hand support. Second, the trigger - when adjusted down from the >2000 grams factory setting, down to some 1200-1300 grams, it's crispy, no creep, a true capable performer. Third, the sights - made by LPA, windage and elevation adjustable and with a match oriented sight contour. All adds up to a true performer.

The down side - there's always one - comes from the use of plastic/polymer on many components - in particular, on the magazines and on the front slide blocker. Personally, I dislike the look and fell and I sure have some questions about long term use.

Wood grip replacement by Nill (Germany)
- lacking the "extended" beavertail of the original
Photo (c) Nill Griffe Shop

There's a third party option grip from Nill Grips, Germany, but, very surprisingly, lacks, by design, the beavertail section - and that's precisly one of the strong points on the original. I will keep the original grip on this - and I'm a "dedicated" wood / Nill grips fan.

Photos and details of the Hämmerli X-Esse

Left side, safety on (red dot shows, top back)

Right side

Detailed perspective on the synthetic grip
- with a strong effective grip-on texture stipple like

Magazine removed and the slide locked in the open position

LPA back adjustable (windage and elevation) match sights

Front sight

Close up on the trigger blade and magazine extraction button

First trial at air rifle Benchrest 25 - BR25

Today, June 25th, 2011, at the Carregueira shooting range (Belas, Sintra, Portugal), with an outside temperature on the 36 C / approx. 97 F range (!), I made my first trial at Benchrest 25, BR 25, air rifle (25 meters / 27 yards). I used my "old", Field-Target "focused", Air-Arms EV2 Mk.II, with AA  Diabolo Field .177" / 4,52mm pellets (0,547 grams / 8,44 grains), scoped with a Nikko Stirling Diamond 50x  (mil-dot reticle) mounted on Sportsmatch UK mounts, on my Varide Cicognani bench rest, and made about 85 training shots with it (approx. 25 "sighters" plus 60 "match like") with overall average / bellow average results.

Air Arms Ev2-MK-II, Nikko Diamond 50x scope,

Varide Cicognani rest, Gibraltar / Roc-n-Soc adjustable stool

Scoring is a little different from BR50 - at BR25 the tiny central ring-dot is the 10 point mark by itself - if you break the ring you score 10 points, if you obliterate the ring entirely you score X. On BR50 the entire central tiny ring is only for Xs and the immediate envolving circle is the 10 points mark.

Scoring (out of 50) was:

• First target: 46, 46, 41
• Second target: 47, 44, 48
• Third target: 47, 48, 48
• Fourth target: 47, 44, 47

Overall average score was: 46 / 50 points .

Since I was using cut down A3 to A4 photocopied targets, only 3 series per sheet were available instead of the regular 5 series per sheet. Extrapolating the average per series above for a full 5 series target, that would be 230 / 250 points (9,2 / 10 points per individual target). Since I'm running 240-245 at the BR50 .22 LR there's a lot to improve around the air rifle - but, anyway, this was just the first trial, and for sure it was fun!

Official - BR25 Target  - 25 targets plus sighters

Target I - used as my full "sighter" target

  

Target II, used as my first "match like target", average 44/50

Target III, used as my second "match like target", average 46/50

Target IV, used as my third "match like target", average 47/50

Target V, used as my fourth "match like target", average 46/50

Pellets Air-Arms Diabolo Field 4,52mm (.177")

0,547 Grams (8,44 Grains)

A custom made bullet holder for my MLAIC match "workbench"

An ergonomic "workbench" (and a methodical process of addressing it in a safe and eficient manner) is a key element for succeeding at a MLAIC match. Part of this ergonomics are a few "holders" and their positioning on the bench - holders for the powder and semolina charges, holders for the loading tools and, last but not least, holders for the lead balls.

With the work and tools / design know-how of fellow shooter and friend J. Almeida Santos, also my instructor on the national Black Powder certification, I got a custom made bullet holder for my MLAIC workbench - "dual faced", on one side for the .36 caliber (pistol) and on the other for the .44 caliber (revolver).

Construction was made over a simple piece of pine wood, later finished with generous amounts of teak oil. The bullet holder has 16 holes, in 2 rows of 8 - allowing the management of the MLAIC shooting rules - of 13 shoots - 6 on one target, 7 on the other - with some extra / spare room left on the holder. The most important dimension - ergonomic wise - is the center to center (CTC) distance between holes (20 mm , 0,78") - that must enable a easy access and prevent accidental "impact" on the "neighbour" bullets - we don't want to spill extra bullets "all over" the bench, and we must also be space saver as the bench is not infinite and there's a lot of elements to work over it (and on some matches the bench is somewhat confined). Also important is the relative depth of the holes - approx. one third of the ball size.

All measures in detail (imperial and metric) - both sides of the holder

.44 side

.36 side

Details on the .44 side of the bullet holder:

Details on the .36 side of the bullet holder: