AUSTRALIAN TEAM MEMBERS NEEDED for CAMP PERRY USA 2011 July 30 - August 12. BE PART OF THE TEAM, AND THE EXPERIENCE...

Camp Perry – 2011 National Matches (the XC World Cup) (CMP, NRA & OHNG)

5 Australians were at Camp Perry this year.  Some of them have posted some reading material below...

    - David Waters

    - Roman Soper

    - Simon Fletcher

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David Waters trip to Perry 2011.

Perry this year was an unusual experience.  The trip was the same, the event was the same, the location the same, but the people were different.  Perhaps because of the state of the US economy, but the "Perry buzz" just wasn't quite there this year.  However, Perry, in comparison to anything in Australia, is an AMAZING event.

The good news for the Australians, was that a combination of the strong Australian dollar against the US, and the US economy driving the price of goods down, we had the cheapest Perry trip ever.  This trip was achievable for under $4.5k.

As with previous years, the first few days are extremely hectic.  We spent day 1 getting settled into our accommodation, doing the grocery shopping, etc.  We then spend the next 2 days getting guns, ammo, doing registrations, etc.  But all this time, we are saying hello to the HUNDREDS of friends I've met in previous years.  I think the warm felt welcome is the best bit about the pilgrimage to Camp Perry each year...2011 being my 7th.

One must be financially careful at Camp Perry, due to that money magnet..."commercial row"... also known as "vendors alley".  It is VERY easy to clean out your wallet and credit card in a very short period of time...

The CMP Service Rifle Matches occupy the first week of the High Power Championships.  As usual, they were heavily supported.  I was told 1308 shooters registered for the Presidents, but of course not all finished...and we all know how that goes.  Week 2 is the NRA matches, for both Service Rifle and Match Rifle.  Many competitors leave after CMP week due to using up their annual vacation time and not having enough to include NRA week.  However, there are many shooters show up for NRA week only due to the easier running days, and that NRA week offers the shooter sighting shots before each string.

My results for both CMP and NRA weeks were in absolute contrast to previous years.  Normally, the first we get to touch the gun is Presidents 100 day (day 1) after some 11.5 months of them sitting in storage.  So, come P100 day, we are typically very rusty - and having no sighters makes it a real challenge.  It is typically a case of CMP week being a training week for us, and NRA week being the week we really challenge for good results.  This year, however, not so...  I ended with a fantastic CMP week, but disastrous NRA week...

Day 1 - Presidents 100.  CMP week began with a running start.  After the P100 200 standing and 300 prone rapid fire strings, I was sitting in 4th place out of over 1300 shooters.  Then there was a lighting strike delay, where we had to evacuate the range.  After some couple of hours, firing was resumed.  I was absolutely tired, jetlagged and really couldn't settle back into shooting.  I dropped and unrecoverable 9 points over the last 10 shots at 600 yards.  However, given my great start, I managed to finish the match in 51st place, to make the exclusive P100 list.

Day 2 - National Trophy (Individual) (NTI).  This is the biggest match, and its winner is truly singled out as a "champion".  The conditions weren't too bad, however the 600 was extremely tough for some relays with condition changes late in the day.  Without doubt my best performance, and I believe the best performance ever by an international.  I finished in 18th place out of over 1300 shooters.  It was AMAZING, and without doubt the highlight of my trip.  Everybody who was anybody was congratulating me on the result, of which I am extremely grateful.

The Individuals trophy aggregate was excellent.  I finished 7th overall in the aggregate.  It was more a case of consistency than anything (had to snag one sooner or later).  Some shooters had a great P100 day, but poor NTI, or visa versa.

Day 3 - Hurst Doubles (2 man teams).  I shot with Clint from Texas.  I shot very well but, like myself, many others were getting into the Perry swing, and overall the scores were much higher.  I finished 35th out of 532 shooters.

Day 4 - National Trophy (6 man Teams) (NTT).  Again I shot with Gulf Coast Texas team.  I was very happy with my shooting, hoping to shoot another 490+ score, but some coaching errors has me destroy myself in the first few shots at the 600.  Oh well, win together, lose together.  I have no regrets.  I think this day is the best day of the entire 2 weeks.  I really enjoy shooting with my Texas friends...gotta LOVE Texas...

Day 5 - National Trophy Infantry (6 man Teams) (NTIT).  Aka "Rattle Battle".  The best and most enjoyable match of the championship.  On, blaze away, as fast as you can, then off and done for the day.  We shot out of competition (something I still don't completely understand, but doesn't really matter).  Again I shot with Texas (Gulf Coast Rifles) and we shot a team score of 1064 - our highest score ever.  If we would have squared the 2 targets we failed to, who knows where we would have finished...

End of CMP Matches.  Full details available at www.odcmp.com

The start of NRA matches...

Day 7 - 2nd Amendment Match (2 man teams).  Teamed up with Clint from Texas.  We shot well, but the day got a little complicated later keeping our scores a little lower than expected.

Day 8 - A favourite day, the Rumbold (4 man teams), and keen to make it up to my Texan friends after a poor NTT by shooting a good score.  I finished with a 491.15, so was happy with that.  One of the highest scores on the day.  It was a huge confident builder...

Day 9-12 - Beginning of the NRA Individual championships.  240 shots over 4 days.  I got off to a flying start standing, after shooting my first shot out of the black standing the whole week with a disappointing 8.  I finished the first 10 shots with a 95..."could" have been a 97, but then the wheels fell off.  I got tired through the next 10 shots with the first next 5 shots being 10's and X's, then shot a 6, then a 8, then a 7...OOHHH NNNOOOOooooooo.

I'm not sure what happened, but it is as if my barrel let go.  I could not shoot a tight group, and it also caused my zero to change - suddenly I had to wind up clicks from my zeros the week before, and wind 4 clicks right for everything.

Due to the match conditions we shoot in, and the competitive pressure we are under, it is very hard to "sight" a rifle during a match.  I was not convinced I had rifle issues until the 3rd day of the NRA championship...which by then, it is too late to do anything about it and try to recover.

My NRA week finished with a 2326.71/2400 resulting in a disappointing 81st place.  It was one of my worst Perry efforts in years.  Full NRA week details available at http://www.nrahq.org/compete/champ3.asp

So, all in all, I went from hero week 1, to zero week 2.  That is shooting!  I'll be back...next year to try again...and will love every minute of it...

We must thank some of those that make the whole trip possible...  Starting with Bob Laird, Jim and Deb who help me even get into the United States and get mobile, around and from Perry.  Bob doesn't shoot with us, yet he transports all our stored gear to and from Perry each year...he is a champion.  Then there are our dear Texan friends, who sort us out with our sporting implements...Bob, Glenn, Clint, Doug Giraud (the best scope stands which we get new ever year and flood Australia with) and the team members Walt, Dan and Jason - that make up the Texan Gulf Coast Rifles team of the 4 of the days during Perry I certainly feel like a Texan, and I am very proud of that.  Also thanks to Charles for a GREAT Texan dinner on the Thursday night...for all Texans to enjoy.

When it comes to organisations in shooting sports, there are few that give a more personal level of attention to the shooters than the CMP.  A few years back, the CMP were "the" group that kept us going to Perry, after we were unable to find accommodation and had to withdraw from the matches...but the CMP came to our aid, and we have been grateful ever since.  Thanks Christie, Vera, Shannon, Christine, Christina, Sherry, and "the photographer".

On the Australia front, I give thanks to all the shooters who genuinely believe multi-positional shooting IS real shooting in its entirety.  I also thank all the clubs and associations who have helped in anyway - Australian International High Power Assn, Sydney Centrefire Group, Katoomba Rifle Club, Concord Rifle Club and Blue Mountains Pistol Club.

On a sadder note, there was a long time known person who wasn't at Camp Perry this year.  His name is Rick Crawford, who was the Chairman of Texas State Service Rifle.  Rick unfortunately passed away a few months before Perry from a very unexpected heart attack.  Rick was a gentleman, a long time supporter of us, and I had the great pleasure to shoot with this champion in 2010.  RIP Rick Crawford.

To all our friends in the great US, many thanks for your friendship, help and support.  It is great seeing you every year, and, as always, making us feel most welcome...in the land of the free.

See you next year...

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Roman Soper trip to Perry 2011

The morning of my departure, I met Simon at Brisbane Airport where we said goodbye to our families etc before the huge flight to LAX. Not being able to sleep on the plane too well, my first sleep was after arriving at Cleveland airport - around 11pm.

David picked us up the following morning at Cleveland airport where we continued on to Perry.  After we got our rooms sorted we met David's friend Bob who had bought life savers such as Air conditioner, Fridge, bedding etc.  Then we signed on for CMP week .During this period I saw in all its glory 'Commercial Row' and was amazed at the quality and prices of everything.  It was like being a kid again, toys galore! Everything and anything to do with highpower is there.  And, the prices are wonderful. Armalite, Rock River, Springfield Armoury..., the list goes on.

After we got our stuff squared away we got the loaner rifles from the Texans.  It was great, first of all get your hands on some real rifles and meeting a great group of blokes.  The CMP week started with squaded practise shooting at 300 and 600 yards.  Using only open sights, I found that is a challenge in itself.  But these Match grade AR15s are amazingly accurate and handled it no problems.  I have not been shooting for long, but with help from David and Simon, I was pleased with the results I achieved over my trip to Perry.  I managed a 195-3x for a 300yd rapid - the best I have ever done.  Highlight was a National Match score of 470-5x during the Rumbold match.

Camp Perry National Matches are pretty full-on the whole time you are there.  Up at the crack of dawn to be at the line on time...and, I mean on time - absolutely no showing up late - late comes don't get to shoot.

The lack of sightering shots during the first week of CMP is a struggle, but a challenge.  If you weren't dialled in correctly, you would have a nice group off to once side or the other - as I did at the start.  It was during this week that David placed in the Presidents 100 and was with the leaders during the National Trophy matches.  It was a fantastic performance on his part!

NRA week was different.  A few less people, and you could see things starting to wind down. However, during NRA week, I happened to be in the pits during Sheri Gallagher's shoot-off for the 300 rapid aggregate match, where she shot a 10x clean. This was amazing to watch.

During the event, we met many different people. Some I most remember are Sheri and Michelle Gallagher and their Mum, David Tubb and his wife, Steve Davis Ron Zerr and a long time icon R.Lee Ermey who was the main Sargent character in the movie "Full Metal Jacket".

This being my first trip to the U.S. I found Americans to be very nice people and easy to get on with.  It was fun meeting people from all different parts of America.  Food was very cheap in the Supermarkets and when you eat out.  It shows we pay too much in Australia.  I fell in love with Wal-Mart, as it has everything you need all under one roof - Imagine my surprise when I found bananas for 39 cents a pound!

I really enjoyed my trip to Perry, and would recommend it to anyone. I would like to thank the Texans Glenn, Clint, Walt and the others like Bob and those who lent us the car. Also thanks to the CMP ladies for all their help.  And finally, Charles for the wonderful dinner at Mon Ami.

So to you reading this, save your money and go to Perry!

Sherry Gallagher's 10X in the 300 shoot-off.

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Simon Fletcher trip to Perry 2011

By Simon Fletcher

I DID IT!!!

After shooting NRA High Power since 2005 I finally made the pilgrimage to Camp Perry, Ohio to compete in the one of the biggest shooting events in the world.

I’ve been planning for this trip since the first time I heard about it and it lived up to every expectation of size, grandeur and FUN! When the opportunity came up in late 2010 I jumped at it, given the exchange rate and the ‘permission’ required… This was also the first time I’ve travelled outside of Australia so it was an adventure of firsts. Travelling from Brisbane with Roman Soper, a fellow QMRC member, gave us an opportunity to discuss the trip ahead and take in the sights from the plane.

Day 1 – Friday – Dave Waters picked us up from Cleveland airport after an eventful night spent at trying to get some sleep. Travelled to Camp Perry, about an hours drive west of Cleveland where we checked in to our accommodation, which still had the previous occupants in it!, Bob (the first of many amazingly friendly and helpful Americans’) arrived with the creature comforts – fridge, air-conditioner, linen & pillows – which made our austere accommodation quite pleasant for our two week stay. We registered for the CMP matches and collected gear. Spent the rest of the day unpacking, settling in, meeting heaps of new people and hitting commercial row (has to be seen to be believed).

Day 2 – Saturday – Slept in after deciding not to attend Small Arms Firing School, surprisingly not too affected by jet-lag! Wandered around commercial row, meeting heaps of people and seeing amazing numbers of rifles and gear that we just don’t see in Australia. AR-15’s are the staple but there were heaps of M1 Garands, M1A’s, M1 Carbine’s, pistols of most makes and models and parts and accessories that would make your head spin! Our guns arrived with the Texan contingent around lunchtime, so we divvied up our ammo allowance and headed off to a local private range to get basic zeros and get familiar with the platform. Back to base – more Commercial Row.

Day 3 – Sunday – Squadded Practice – Squadded practice at the 300 & 600 lines on Rodriguez Range. I drew relay 3, so I didn’t have to work the pits! (I only did pit duty on Rodriguez once the whole time, which was for Rattle Battle.) I fired 16rounds at 300 in 10 mins and 15 rounds at 600 and got off the range at 1730 – close on 7 hours on the rage for 20mins of shooting! However, it was good to get a firm 600 zero and a continued feel for the semi-auto platform.

Day 4 – Monday – Presidents 100 – 1121^st/1251 – Nervous but excited, this was it – my first official shots at Camp Perry!!! Had a great day, didn’t shoot to badly considering there were there are no sighters during CMP week. Finished at 600 before a massive the storm came through, just made it back to the hut before the skies opened and it rained and hailed for about half an hour. Luckily we were able to go back out and finish the match, without the top 20 shoot-off, I finished pulling pits for the afternoon. Went to Wal-Mart to get some more supplies and had dinner at a local pizza joint.

Day 5 – Tuesday – NTI – Squadded on little end of Viale Range again, didn’t shoot too badly considering how oppressively hot it was, once you’ve got a sweatshirt, shooting coat and a glove on the temperature sky-rockets and you start sweating…lots! Finished with a 428.4. I was relay 6 so I left the range as soon as I’d finished shooting to have a cold shower and try to cool down a bit. Hit commercial row and found a Rock River Arms hotdog – my first American hotdog. RRA spend over $3k a year supplying free hotdogs and condiments to customers and visitors to their store. More shopping and browsing. Early dinner at one of the on-base vendors and early to bed.

Day 6 – Wednesday – Hurst Doubles – Early start, squadding is done of the line, so first in best dressed. Roman and I shot together, and with a good team effort (team events allow for windage calls by the other team member, so rapids are quite hectic on the line with spotters calling ‘good!’ or giving adjustments) I dropped my first sighter into the berm at 600… ahh remember adjustments before firing! Went to dinner with the owners of Armalite, for yet another fantastic display of American hospitality.

Day 7 – Thursday – Rest Day – Hooray!!! – Slept in. Did some laundry and wandered some of the base we hadn’t seen, including the PX (base mini-mart) which sell everything from spare uniforms to cheap alcohol and food. Headed down to Viale Range to see the match being shot and to cheer on DW and the Texans. Fulfilled another long-term goal by meeting R Lee Ermy and Dennis DeMille from Creedmoor Sports. Bought some cheap 7.62 and headed to the local private range for a bit of afternoon fun with an AR-10. Went to the Texan Dinner at Mon Ami, at which we became honorary Texans!

Day 8 – Friday – Rattle Battle & Happy Birthday Simon!!! – What a day to celebrate my birthday overseas – firing a combined total of 64 rounds as quickly and as accurately as possible in 50 seconds at 600-200m! The greater the distance and number of hits the more points etc. Roman and I teamed up with a group of shooters from Connecticut (George Planeta III, Justine Palmer, Tyler Plude and Ryan McKee) who were short two people. Our team captain was 1^st Lieutenant Julie Cogshall (US Army Engineers) and coach Brad Palmer (Justine’s grandfather). The noise and adrenaline of this event is GREAT, with team coaches yelling corrections and hundreds of rounds in the air…LOVE IT! All done at the range by 1400, bit more commercial row, wandered down to the Camp Perry pier on the banks of Lake Eerie to take photos, saw my first squirrel!, then to the Texans for dinner and rifle cleaning after so many rounds!

Day 9 – Saturday – Rest Day - registered for NRA matches, went house-viewing around Port Clinton, Oak Harbour and Catawba Island (very glitzy holiday area with marina’s and palatial holiday homes). Very interesting to see the normal parts of America and the differences in construction and design of houses, including basements etc. Generally lazy day, hit commercial row again, because most of the vendors start leaving at the end of CMP week, so do your shopping early! Went to BBQ dinner at the Texans and had one of the best nights of my life, lots of good food, average beer and amazing camaraderie!

Day 10 – Sunday – 2^nd Amendment Match and start of NRA week – 2-man team match shot with Roman. As team captain of team “What’s Up Skip?”, I elected to score and send Roman to the pits… We were squadded with Dave (US Army Ranger) and Dan (US AMU), both of whom were great and made the day quite enjoyable. Being a 2-man event, there is coaching allowed during the match, being able to read the wind and pass that to your team mate is an excellent part of team matches. Finished 58/66, not bad for two young Aussies… Off the line at 1430 for some last minute commercial row bargains. Lunch of BBQ ribs from the on-site BBQ van, before driving into Port Clinton for more Wal-Mart and dinner.

Day 11 – Monday – Rumbold Team Match – Four man team (What’s Up Skip?) consisting of myself (Captain,), Roman, Jason Michelli (Texas) and Lindsey Mazurski (Illinois). Shot my best offhand for the trip and we won “Expert- Open Club” with a score of 1873-32x. Dinner at local Chinese restaurant with Texans and Lindsey, again, good food great company!

Day 12 – Tuesday – High Power Individual Day 1 – This day marked 6 years of my High Power shooting ambitions, to be shooting High Power at THE Camp Perry!!! Shot with Andrew from Kansas who was an absolute ball and made the day even more enjoyable. Met several new people, including Hannah Gaddie, who will be coming to Australia for the World Long-Range Championships in October. Went to Mexican restaurant for dinner with Texans, ordered a beer in Spanish! Dropped in on the Kentuckians, Vic, Frank and Jim – yet more great American shooters!

Day 13 – Wednesday – High Power Individual Day 2 – squadded with Andrew from Kansas again, the only time I was squadded with the same person twice. Had a shocking 200SF with a 163-0x, 200RF wasn’t too much better owing to a blast of semi-auto gases in the face! Off the line earlier than CMP week during all of NRA week. Had dinner with Ron Zerr, Steve Davis and Harry Harrison before David Tubb dropped in!!! Got my Australian Team shirt autographed and took the obligatory photos! Not long after Sherri and Michelle Gallagher dropped by to say G’Day and yet another autograph and more photos with two amazing sisters!!!

Day 14 – Thursday - High Power Individual Day 3 – Good day, my 200RF position was quite weak and the results reflected this. I won USD$4 in Pit Bingo. Went to BBQ dinner at the Texans again, for another thoroughly enjoyable night before dropping in on Ron, Steve and Harry and then the Kentuckians. I visited one of my new friends and had my first real ‘smores’ (chocolate and marshmallow melted between two biscuits…) while being eaten alive by mozzies.

Day 15 – Friday - High Power Individual Day 4 and last day of competition – thoroughly enjoyed my last day with decent results at 200SF, 300RF and 600SF. Arranged to give rifles back to Texans (sad moment indeed!!!) Started packing, I even had to buy a cheap duffle bad to bring some of my gear home! Went to the NRA awards ceremony to see the amazing spectacle of rifles being given away alongside trophies, how would that go down in Australia?! Spent the remainder of the evening visiting new friends and a bit more packing.

Day 16 – Saturday – Our last day in the USA! – Early start to finish packing and discover just how much additional gear I had acquired in two weeks! I went to the NRA office to claim prize points and winnings from placing in a few of the matches and placing 2^nd overall in the “Marksman” category. I then went shopping with my points on commercial row for a last hit of retail therapy! Bob arrived before lunch with his wife to collect the fridges and air-conditioner and all the other creature comforts that made the two weeks very comfortable. We then departed Perry and made the long trip home to Australia, having had the time of my life and making new and treasured friendships and being fortunate enough to take part in one of the greatest sporting events in the world!

To those I met and shot with – thank-you for making my first trip to Camp Perry so enjoyable and memorable. Special mention goes to: Britney, Sherri, Bob, Walt, Clint, Doug Giraud, Glenn, Jason, Dan, Vera, the CMP and NRA staff and all the volunteers.

I would like to personally thank Mr David Waters, whose ongoing encouragement and support have allowed me to achieve a once-in-a-lifetime experience!!!... until next time…

I would also like to thank my sponsors, without whose generous support and encouragement this trip would not have been possible:

Mr David Auger of Queensland Gun Exchange & Fishing;
Mr Scott Alcorn of MOA Performance;
Annie and Stuart Elliot of BRT Australia;
Cliff and Diana Fletcher; &
Katie Ottaway

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Fellow Australian shooters.

Why not make 2011 the year you attend another country, and shoot?  Why not make it the USA, and shoot the Camp Perry National Matches with thousands of other shooters?

The AIHPA now have a fantastic support base in the US, and you, thanks to your AIHPA membership, can make the incredible shooting trip to Perry with little effort for an over-amazing experience.

At this stage, the costs for Perry look like being around the average A$4k mark, based on the end of 2010 exch rate of $0.95 and that the 2010 trip cost only $3500 thanks to the AIHPA's contacts and relationships built through previous trips.  This includes the XC shooting events costs - airfares, rifles, ammunition, accommodation, car hire, match registrations, etc.

URGENT:  If you are interested in attending Camp Perry in 2011, then we need to order ammunition in February 2011 - YES,, 6 months from Perry.  Even if now you are only thinking of going, we need to know NOW.

For any other questions, or info on your visit to Camp Perry, simply emails us and we will keep you informed.

The 2011 TENTATIVE (TBC) schedule as follows:

EQUIPMENT FOR PERRY:

Note:  Good idea to purchase new scope and stand in the US, then sell when return to Aus (help you, and help local shooters).

As for packing cloths.  The weather is always very warm to hot, and mostly very humid.  Shorts and tee-shirts are must.  Anything long is typically not worn.  It is recommended to travel light there, as many things are cheap there, and there is a lot of local shooting related items and clothing that is hard to resist purchasing (eg. some members take 2 tee shirts, and return with 20...)

BOOKING THE EVENT:

- Jan,    Organise a Passport if not one already.
- Jan,    Confirm attendance and purchase ammo (qty based on shooting either CMP week, NRA week, or both).
- Feb,   Join the NRA of the US (a good investment, it is cheap, and get the best magazine in the sport every month).
- Feb,   Confirm accommodation needs (based on number of nights, with arrival and departure date - and confirm if hut or module required).
- Feb,   Purchase a shooting Coat from US vendor (if not taking own, or already have one).
- Mar,   Register for CMP matches via on-line website entry.
- Mar,   Purchase scope stand and spotting scope (if not taking own, or already have one).
- Apr,   Organise firearms (qty's and dates needed) - transport to and from Perry.
- May,  Begin to organise flights.
- May,  Register for NRA matches via on-line website entry.
- June,  Complete the electronic VISA entra https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov
- June,  Organise car hire and other transport needs.
- July,   Organise travel insurance.
- July,   Organise some US currency.