29. 10m Air Pistol

Event: 10m Air Pistol
Date: 19th September 2013
Location: Colchester Rifle Club 
Cost: 24p for scorecards 
Rules:  In the qualifying rounds shooters fire 40 shots at the target which is at a distance of 10 metres, with a time limit of 75 minutes. The eight shooters with the best score progress to the final where they fire 10 shots with a time limit of 75 seconds per shot. The shooter with the best combined score from the qualifying and final wins.

   

The Event: 

Scores:

Sarah

 

Ellie:

London 2012 Winner: Guo Wenjun, China.

Comments:  

Sarah: After the stability of the air rifle, we both found it was really hard to keep the air pistols steady, and the few shots that actually hit the targets were quite erratic. We shot one round of ten on a basic air pistol, and another round of ten from a more advanced gun with a wooden grip, which offered a bit more support to our wobbly wrists. We're not just being casual in the pictures; we were told to stand with a hand in our pocket or on our bum to steady ourselves! We only have one shooting event left now, and we'd been hearing murmurs that it would be impossible in this country. Which it will, as the pistol is banned. The UK athletes train in Switzerland, which I don't think our budget will stretch to!  We're hoping to find somewhere a bit cheaper, and probably less glamorous, to plan our trip!    
          
Ellie: Well that's it. That's all our shooting in the UK done. The next time we pick up a gun for our challenge we will be somewhere foreign! These tiny guns are really hard to keep steady but I really enjoyed the jaunty stance... it's easy to feel a bit like you are in a film when holding a gun and standing like that!

That was sadly our last trip to Colchester Rifle Club, and we'd like to thank them for their patience and hospitality! If you're looking to get in to shooting, they are a good bunch to contact! www.colchester-rifle-club.org.uk

28. 10m Air Rifle

Event: 10m Air Rifle
Date: 19th September 2013
Location: Colchester Rifle Club 
Cost: 12p for score cards. 
Rules:  In the qualifying rounds, shooters fire 40 shots in a standing position, with a time limit of 75 minutes. The target is placed 10m away. The eight top shooters progress to the final where they shoot 10 shots on command, with a time limit of 75 seconds per shot. The shooter with the best combined score from the qualifying and final wins.

   

The Event: 

 

Scores:

Sarah: 

Ellie:  

London 2012 Winner: Yi Siling, China.

Comments:  

Sarah: We made a welcome return to Colchester Rifle Club, this time with Matt as our coach, talking us through the air rifle. The gun was so much lighter than the other rifles we'd previously used, with hardly any kick-back, and we were both far more accurate in our shots. The guns take pellets, which are simple to reload, making the whole event seem much quicker and more flowing. I seemed to favour the right-side of the target, which apparently meant I was pulling at the trigger rather than gently squeezing it.    
          
Ellie: The moon was bright, there wasn't a cloud in the sky and we were off to try a new firearm. Everything seemed a lot calmer compared to our previous gun adventures. This is possibly because we are now old hands in the shooting game or because of how quiet it was at the club or because the pellets seemed a lot less ... dangerous? Either way I still felt a great deal less accurate when shooting and I think that this was because of the weight of the riffles or lack thereof. I felt that I was much more wobbly because I didn't have a huge, weighty riffle rooting me to the spot. It was a great experience though - the machine that positions the target was worth it in its self!