Camp Perry Interview with David Waters

How did you know about Perry

I first came across it in 1992 when I was at Silverdale and heard a comment of “this isn’t Camp Perry”.  I researched it from that point, and finally job, finance and commitments aligned for the pilgrimage in 2005.  I haven’t missed a year since, and don’t plan to in the foreseeable future.

Why go to Perry?

Friends – the best of.  Shooting, vibe and everything else is a bonus.

What did you think about Perry?

Incredible to comprehend.  Size, scale, coordination and organisation.  Plus, it is very refreshing to see multiple services AND associations working hand in hand for a common goal.

Do you think you were made welcome?  Why?

Absolutely no question that we were.  And, if you were in any doubt, you were reminded every minute somebody asked if they could help you with something.

What rifle/rifles did you shoot at Perry?

I used an AR15 all through Perry.

What matches did you shoot at Perry?

I shot the “National Matches” only.  There are other matches, known as “games matches”, catering for various types of specific firearms (M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, 1903 Springfield, etc).  I was happy to miss those matches for some relaxation time, as the whole trip is go, go, go.  Plus, these “days off” are a good opportunity to walk around an impressive base, say G’day to everybody, and organise swap meets.  Retail therapy is dangerous – can get expensive because its “kid in toy shop” syndrome.

Favourite match?

Presidents 100.  Only due to the challenge.  First match, packed to the rafters, shooters 6 deep, and no sighters.  Are you on your a game, or not?  This will tell you.

Of course, the NTIT (Rattle Battle) rock and roll match is a lot of fun.  Team matches are taken very seriously in the US.  There is great pride at stake.  Something Aussies could learn from.

While at Perry, what did you think about the people there (shooters, visitors, staff, services)?

All brilliant.  No complaints.  Especially our Texas friends.  All champions.  They just need to learn how to speak Australian!

What was the best thing about Perry?

1) Being there – at all cost.

2) The number of juniors shooting (and outshooting most adults).

3) The services and civilians shooting hand in hand.

4) Teamanship between all the US teams, the interstate competitive rivalries.

5) Common skills and match practice between all the competitors (give instructions once, and they do it, well).

6) Level of readiness – never did I have to wait on the line (of 100 ot 150  shooters on the firing line at any 1 time) for somebody to get their ear-muffs, ammo, magazines, OR TO LOAD!

7) Meeting Full Metal Jacket star, and former Marine, Lee Ermey. 

What about Perry didn’t you like?

1) There was some significant rain, but that was tolerable. However the accommodation area of the complex does not receive heavy rain very well.

2) The numbers of shooters for NRA week were well down on CMP week.  I believe we are all shareholders in this sport, and if you don’t use it, you lose it.

3) I would prefer the “Games Matches” be put at the beginning or end of “The National Matches”.   Clashing games matches with national matches, or having games matches days at the expense of, or between, national matches days is costly to travellers who went for the “main event”.

What surprised you the most?

After having been there the previous 2 years, I consider myself a seasoned competitor, however it is a breathtaking experience every time we drive through the gats (of shooting heaven).

What disappointed you the most?

Not being able to spend more time socialising with the hundreds of friends we make during the matches.

Thoughts on CMP?

A strictly shooting association that really does cater, to every degree, for shooting sports, and its competitors.  Very well run, and very professional.  Love to have something like this in Australia, bringing civilians and the services together.

Thoughts on NRA?

A huge and powerful association that fights the fight, and runs the most relaxed and enjoyable matches over the 2 weeks of the National Matches for Across the Course.  This year, maybe not so due to the major rain falls, but on the whole, an association we could do with here.

What home comfort did you miss the most?

Not Vegemite, because I took a large jar of it.  So this year, nothing!

Would you encourage others to go to Perry, and why?

Absolutely.  See what real shooting is like, without the politics, more rules than you can jump over, and leave the US a better shooter.  Note, never once did an RO come a drag the rifle out of my hands to stick his face up to the butt and try to look down the barrel!

Advice to those going next time?

Have high spirit, open mind, don’t act like a tourist, speak slowly, accept the way things are, plan for the worst, go over light (come home heavy), smile and say lots of G’days, remember safety first, last and always.

Will you be back to Perry?

Absolutely.  Next year...

Those you would like to thank?

For mine, not speaking on behalf of the team, Glenn Edgard and Clint Greenwood of Texas for the brilliant assistance.  Doug Giraud for helping our team by selling our team shirts and supplying the BEST scope stands in the world.  All the Texas shooters for being all top blokes.  Bob Underwood for returning our gear safely. Amil Prestley for CMP day 1 cart rides to CMP trailer after trigger problems, James Wagner USMC for partnering me in the doubles match, and helping with the NTT team.  Mike USMC and Kyle USMC for assistance with NTIT (Rattle Battle) team coach and captain (also for just hanging out together), Bull for being a top bloke, Hippie for the much needed “Breakfree” oil, all the people I shot with, all the AMU, USMC, NG, Navy, Air Force (some serious shooters amongst those real gentlemen), CMP staff (brilliant), NRA staff (brilliant), NRA’s Mike Krei for remember us and making us welcome with a warm handshake, all those who purchased Australian Team shirts (wear them with pride), all the shooters at the matches who said hello, goodbye and see you next year.  I, on behalf of the team, give a very special and huge thankyou to Bob Laird (a dear friend) who collected our gear at the end of Perry and is storing it for us until next year – a true champion of shooting.  Last, but most definitely not least, Sgt Ken Bain USMC (aka Big Unit, aka2 Scary Big Unit) for helping with trigger, assisting with stoppages on the line, shirts, beer, late nights around the armoury truck telling wild USMC stories.  If I have missed anybody, then thanks to you also.

Describe your daily shooting experiences:

The first day was one of those days I’d rather forget.  With some early morning horsing around, due to the other Australian team members, I was running around distributing ammo until 6.20am – note role call is at 6.40am, and the range is 15min walk from our hut.

After finally departing for role call at my firing point, somebody mentioned we had to get our triggers weighed.  Something I completely forgot about, something we should have done the day before, and something I certainly knew about so there were no excuses.

The worst thing that could have happened, did.  My trigger failed the test. One would think, being an AR and so very workable, that a simple bend of the sprint would fix the problem in 2 minutes.  Nup, that was too easy.  My lower received was almost completely stripped, and the trigger removed.  Clock was ticking – I had to be at role call, so left the rifle behind, with my cart, and ran to role call (literally running).  After arriving at role call huffing and puffing, my fellow shooters on the firing point said they would answer for me, so I could RUN back and get my cart.  Thankfully, Emil Prestlec (AMU) was driving past in his cart, so he gave me a lift to the truck.  On arriving, I found them literally grinding and hammered my trigger.  But my hands were tired – if trigger doesn’t life weight, then I can’t shoot.

10min later, after 20+min in total, my crisp 2-stage trigger is now a single stage, extra-long pull dirty release piece of rubbish, but I didn’t know it yet...

Lesson learnt, is to get the rifle weighed the day before, or sooner, and get people accountable to do the trigger.

- CMP Presidents 100

With 1265 (range capacity) shooters, if not the most important match, then the 2^nd most important match.  This is the toughest day for us.  Considering travel, first match, unfamiliar country (therefore range), lack of confidence with an unfamiliar rifle, unsure of zero’s, ammo, our bodies telling us it is time for bed, and a hot humid day (winter in Aus), NO WARMUP OR SIGHTERS, and of course, my horrible trigger, this match is the ultimate test for us.

I shot disappointingly bad, on a very difficult day, considering the winning score was 293.  To make the Presidents 100, you have to be in the top 100 shooters.  I had high hopes of making it this year, after just missing out last year, but it wasn’t to be.  In fact, I shot worse this year than the previous year.

Standing Slow, first shot took for every to squeeze off, due to my new feel trigger.  I finished pretty well, but the first few shots were a very steep learning curve.  The no sighters rule really killed me here.

Prone Rapid, I wound the sights the wrong way (wound like match sight, not service sight) and shot a wonderful group out in the 9/10 ring.  Again, no sighters killed me, and prone slinged up tight meant I felt every inch (well, it felt like it) of pull of this wonderful new trigger.

Prone Slow, I shot pretty well considering, again, the trigger.  I just couldn’t get the trigger to break when I wanted it to.  With no sighters, and at 600 without a confident zero, no confidence in the rifle, and a switching wind, the first shot is always the hardest (definitely, mind over matter takes play).

Results.

- CMP National Trophy Individual

Like P100, this is the other big one.  Again, with no sighters, a winning score of 497, 3 off a possible, with 1202 shooters, it is truly amazing how important day 1 is for zeros and confidence building.

I felt a lot better about this day with yesterday P100 behind me.  Fresher, a lot more settled, I was looking for a really good finish, but more importantly to earn leg points towards a distinguished badge..

Standing Slow, I was happy with the 93start (last shot a 6).

Sitting Rapid – disaster struck.  Still in P100 mode, I, without thinking, wound my sights to 300 and shot a superb group high in the 9 ring, with 3 scratching the 10 ring.

Prone Rapid – I’m not sure here, shot another supurb group all high in the 10ring, with 3 out.

Prone Slow.  I was in the groove – after a first shot 7.

The important thing, was I picked up 10 leg points.  Now with 14 points, needing 30, I am thirsty to become distinguished.

Results.

- CMP Hurst Doubles

I think this is one of the best days of Perry.  It is the 30shot P100 style match, but shot with a buddy who can coach, etc.  Due to the Aus team having an odd number of shooters, I was fortunate to shoot with James Wagener of the USMC.  It was a top day.  Finishing 60^th was a huge buz.

- CMP National Trophy Teams

With many of our members off shooting “games matches”, this day was the very popular 30 M1 Carbine match, we had to make up the shortfall thanks to some US shooter volunteers.

During the Hurst Double match, I used my contacts on Viale range (thanks Ken, a real gentleman) to do the “not done thing” and have the centre line tower ask for any volunteers who wanted to join the Aussie Team (formerly the AussieRoos) to come and see the Aussie in the yellow shirt waiting at the bottom of the tower at the close of the day.  The response was unbelievable.  By the end of the day, we had 50 people wanting to join the Aussie team.

This day was dangerous for many.  Both the heat and humidity were extreme, the wind was very strong, and several shooters were taken by ambulance.  The Army medics had intravenous drips setup under tents to help rehydrate shooters.  I must admit, I felt great all day (maybe the Aussie in me, and being used to our hot summers) but coming from our winter, and seeing what was going on around me, I was worried.  Fortunately, I held it together to finish with a reasonable score, all things considered.

The team finished 2^nd in “Out of Comp” by only a few points behind 1^st.  A very proud day, and perhaps a case of “what might, could, would have been, but wasn’t”.

Team

DW Individual

- CMP National Trophy Infantry Teams (Rattle Battle)

The rock and roll match, where a team of 6 shooters hammer out 384 rounds in, preferably, 100 seconds.  Something that most Australians might complain about, but in the US, it is the day many are waiting for.

The Aussie team did very well.  I was their brass rat – picking up the brass of the team shooters as they advanced down range.

I shot for the Texas “Gulf Coast” team.  This was an honour, and a treat.  I loved shooting with my mates from Texas, and wearing the lone star hat.  Hopefully, I will be invited back next year.

- NRA Rumbold Teams

This is the start of NRA week.  It is a fantastic week, well organised and run, and you will shoot more ammo, plus sighters, and finish much earlier in the day (more drinking time).

The best part of this week is seeing the best shooters, and teams, in the world roll in, and the line full of a mixture of service rifles (love those AR’s) and match rifles.

Like a kid watching his hero’s on the field, I couldn’t take my eyes off Team Creedmoor shooters David Tubb, Norm Hourle, Dennis Demille and Ron Zerr.  Wathcing these shooters is an amazing experience.  Obviously, my eyes and ears were well open hoping to pick up anything I could.

This day is very well placed in the scheme of the event.  The team mates can work with the shooter to get solid zero’s, beyond what the sighters can give you.  This helps to maximise your ability in this shoot, and for the individual matches that follow.

- NRA Individual Day 1

A disaster of a start.  The first day was cancelled due to rain and lightning.  Hope was not lost, as each day, from this point, was to become 80shot days, instead of 60.

- NRA Individual Day 2

The weather allowed the matches to start, and I had a rough night the night before.  I was first on the line, still half asleep and feeling very seedy, I shot standing to finish with a 171.  Probably my worst effort standing ever (with all 20 shots on target).

Fortunately they made a pit change after standing, so I got to wake up, poor water over my head, and sweat out the seedyness before the later strings.

I shot fantastic for the rest of the day.  199 sitting rapid, 198 prone rapid, 195 prone slow.  Was this my week to shine – if I could come back from the bad start?

- NRA Individual Day 3

After deciding no more drinking, I was hoping for a good, strong, finish.  I was first in the pits, with cart in open, my in shorts and tee shirt only.  About 1 hour into my pit stint, drops starting falling out of the sky.  Drops turned to drizzle which turned to rain.  Within minutes, I was saturated.  The shoot went on.  The 1^st detail had fantastic conditions, the 2^nd no doubt did it tough.  Thoughts of my uncovered gear on the line passed through my head.  Thankfully, and I only found this out later, that David Tubb’s wife saw my gear and put up an umbrella over it (she is sensational).

I was 3^rd detail, and, true to my form, it poored during it.  I don’t know how, but I shot a 184 standing, and this was with saturated cloths under my coat, which the coat is now saturated, my hat acting as a water duct channelling water onto my rifle, the peep sight continuously filling up with water, and all the other associated problems.

By the 300 rapid fire, the rain stayed for relay 4, but then vanished into one of the most humid days I have ever experienced in my life, anywhere.  Rapid fire was tough, no wind, but could hardly see the target for steam and very poor light.  I shot very well considering.

It was back to 600, and although results down, compared to the competition, I was doing pretty good (more luck, than anything, I think).  After finding my way into the centre during the sighters, I began to hammer the centre out of the X ring.  Could I clean the 600?  Just past half way, I dropped a 6 o’clock 8 - not sure where it came from.  Loaded the next round, and bolt wouldn’t close.  I had blown a primer.  “Armourer, to target 61”.  In came big unit USMC Bain with kit in hand.  Pulled my rifle apart, and got me going.  The wind came up.  Snagged a 10 next shot.  Shot another 8 out at 6 – another blown primer.  “Armourer, to target 61”.  Bain returned – I was scared (he is a big unit).  Next shot, 10 out the other side.  The next few shots, I kept them in, then another 8 out at 6 – another blown primer.  I finished with a 194.  But hey, that is shooting!  Can’t wait for tomorrow.

- NRA Individual Day 4

We woke, and the rain was back.  With 2 team mates saying they weren’t going out in it, and me concerned about packing wet gear that night for a morning departure, I had mixed feelings myself.

I was off to the firing line for roll call.  All was good.  It started raining, so I withdrew.  I thought I had made the right decision.  Matt Avard stayed on.  I took my gear back to the hut, and strolled back with brolley in hand.  After 30min, it cleared up to a blue sky day.  This pretty well summed up my whole 2 weeks...but can’t wait for next year!

How was your overall performance?

Below average, and very disappointing – sums up my whole year of shooting in 2007.

What did you learn?

I wish we had what the US have...AR15’s!!!