By Don Brook
Before I start this, let me say that I never thought I would see the day when an Australian prone shooter won an Olympic medal. A magnificent shoot Potey, stunning!
It has more than a medal entailed with it as well, for Warren Potent has done something that I thought was well nigh impossible. (I know that I could not do it, and my career had a bus load of merit.) This was to replace the icon for the sport, which was Tolly. I thought that this could not happen, and it gives you readers a good idea of what Warren has done.
In my opinion, (for what it is worth) Warren Potent has established himself as the best prone shooter that Australia has ever seen, and for a nation of belly shooters this is really something.
My heartfelt congratulations Warren “Omni” Potent, that gong, together with a continued rank of world number one is a richly deserved prize for a career that really has just started. I knew a long time ago that Warren was destiny waiting.
What really impressed me was the final. I was screaming that very little TV coverage was occurring (In fact we just saw more coverage of Libby Kosmala in the para games!) but, I did see Warren’s last five shots, and the last 10.7 was smack on top of the others! Brilliant stuff.
When the Aussies won the world team championships in 1986, both Alan Smith and myself thought the keel of the team was Warren Potent with his ability to shoot endless 596s., Our Team leader was David Macfarlane (SA) and in fact I told David three months before the match that we could win it with a new world record. Goal achieved on the very back of a Potent 596.
Since then Warren has progressed, and how.
Tolly is replaced, but Mate, if he were here, like the rest of us, he would be immensely proud. I know that I am !
So do we need to shoot fast?
In my opinion, shooting at speed is something that really needs to be developed. It does take some doing, and is a matter of repetition of the method.
The rifle/shooter combination needs to become at one with each other, and if you have worked hard on getting the rifle to fit, and therefore behave under recoil correctly, you are well on the way.
The advantages of this are quite simple. If you shoot them accurately and fast, you simply shoot through less wind and weather effects, plus there is a really high level of positive attitude connected in the techniques.
There is an advantage of “First sight picture, best sight picture”, and the ability to establish a smooth routine that is purely concerned with developed techniques, and mental attitude.
I have always shot reasonably quickly, finishing an English Match, (60 prone, plus anything up to 12 or more sighter shots) in around 48 to 50 minutes. Very rarely did I take more than that, with a quiet rhythm, and I won a lot of matches with this technique, including some big ones.
I subscribed to my own theory that I should not shoot them any faster than the perfection of my own technique allows. I also used shade aiming a lot in my speed techniques, and I warn you that if you do not have this technique in the tool box, then something is missing!
Warren gets them away very accurately even faster than that, and Alan Smith, in his heyday was something to behold. I remember watching Smithy in the second relay in Suhl when we won the teams, (1986) shoot a 598 in 22 minutes. Alongside of Smithy was a young shooter from Saudi Arabia, who simply put his rifle down and waited till Alan was finished, because he was getting rained on with Tenex shells!
I saw Wolfie Waibel Junior from Austria shoot a 600 in 22 minutes over Cecil Park before they removed the baffles, so it is quite possible to train yourself to shoot this fast. Once again I warn you that shading the aim is part and parcel of speed shooting. You NEED to be able to do this!
I also saw Jack Writer (USA) shoot a standing 40 shots series while the shooter beside him had fired six sighters and 5 shots! This was in Munich in 1972, and he went on to win the Gold medal in 3x40 three position.
So, How do you train yourself to shoot this fast?
There are a number of “rules” to follow, but the simplest one is this…Get all the preliminary set up correct in your training, then just make the commitment to break the shot quite quickly.
Funny, but once the aiming mark is in the middle of the ring, it is NOT going to get any more perfect is it?
Most shooters have an automatic trigger response to a centred aiming mark and the trigger is pressed, so the instant the aim is centre in the foresight the release sequence goes “Blap”. I am often stunned, (and believe me I was not without the same fault, until I got hold of this!) at the amount of shooters that hold a dead centre 10 for ages while the trigger is operated. It is quite common for a shooter to hold anything up to 15 seconds for the shot release. They take ages to go though a trigger release, even to the point of starting to feel.. “Why won’t this sucker go off?”
This is a huge fault, because right at the critical instant, they are thinking of the trigger release, NOT the sight picture alignment…..They also run out of sighting acuity because the lungs by this time are getting bereft of Oxygen.
The triggers are not really very heavy in release pressures are they? Why stuff around, shoot the damn thing!
You will know when you have reached perfection with this technique, when you suddenly realise that you cannot remember firing the trigger at all.
I will bet right now, that in your own personal best results readers, you cannot remember a trigger release operation. If you can, and your PB is registered, then there is STILL more out there for you.
Take a leaf from the book, get it going with heaps of carefully constructed techniques, learn how to take advantage of your eyesight, and just DO IT.
I reckon your skills will develop, along with this attitude.
THE REVOLUTION IN SHOOTING.
By Mark Rea
Advances in electronics are such that if you are not already shooting on electronic targets you will be in the near future and chances are that you can already see them in action at a club near you.
The use of electronic targets is going to present an opportunity to not only upgrade our sport but also for all the shooting disciplines to capitalise on Australia’s fascination with innovative electronics.
Shooting is probably one of the few sports that can adapt to change in this busy modern world and if our sport is to survive it will not be enough to just continue the way we are currently going but we will need a dramatic change not only in the way we think about our sport but also in the way we package and present it to the public.
If we miss this chance we will ultimately just become a minor irritant attracting unfavourable publicity from the antis before we all disappear.
Most of those people in the major cities who own large four wheel drive vehicles, according to everything you read and hear, have them because not only are they perceived to be safe but also they believe that at some time they will take off into the outback, drive over rough roads, ford flooded creeks and have the time of their lives living like their parents and grandparents did.
I believe that the same mindset applies to a large part of the city population with regards to shooting.
How many times have you had a friend or acquaintance say to you, when the subject of shooting is raised “I wouldn’t mind having a go at that” not that they want to join a club and take up shooting full time but just give it a go now and then.
We have reached that time in 2008 when the politicians and media are happy to bask in the glory of our shooters securing gold medals at the Olympic Games, usually more than our athletics team can, then spend the next four years trying their hardest to get rid of us at the behest of the anti gun lobby.
Yet, I would argue that if all members of the various shooting disciplines in the Olympic Team did not compete our medal tally overall would be such that Australia would be relegated to the also-rans in the medal count.
This could result in a massive loss of national pride amongst the general population as well as a loss of interest in sport by the Commonwealth Government who then might not be too keen to increase funding which in turn could impact on the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Institute of Sport.
The shooting fraternity has hidden its light under a bushel for far too long and the 21st Century is a good time to come out of the closet and start to use the support of the silent community to counter the ranting of the anti gun lobby.
How can electronic targets do this? Well as I see it to date to go shooting you usually have to allocate at least a day or a half day at the range and in the world we now live in there are a myriad of demands on the time of not only the family man but also a lot of the single people.
50 years ago dad ruled and if he wanted to go shooting, play golf or bowls or go to the pub on a Saturday afternoon he did and there was little argument, the kids played in the street and mum was in the kitchen cooking.
Today mum, the kids or the girlfriend all demand equal time, the kids to soccer or netball, mum shopping or for those who are single just time with the girlfriend as well as all those other activities surfing, cars, going to the pub with mates, so we all have to make choices and those choices aren’t necessarily the ones we might want but we have to choose.
A recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald said that the numbers watching golf on television had dropped from 42% to 19% and that golf clubs are trying to increase membership, why because golf takes forever whether playing or watching and nobody has the time anymore and this goes for most sports.
As we are becoming so time poor we need to be able to allocate our time better to be able to do those things that we love to do and still fit in with the demands of family and friends and this is where I believe that electronic targets can change the way we participate in our sport.
Electronic targets will enable us to have a range open so shooters can attend at a suitable time, fire whatever stages are necessary to lodge a score for the day’s club competition and then leave for whatever other commitments he/she may have for the rest of the day.
While we all attend the range to shoot, sit around for the afternoon with our friends and enjoy the camaraderie with people of like interests, for those people with other demands on their time and who have to make decisions on where they have to be, a half hour or hour at the range is better than no time at all and if only spending half an hour at the range can save a club member from leaving the sport or create the opportunity to increase the membership then this opportunity has to be grasped.
Although getting all disciplines and clubs up to the stage where they are electronic is some years away we need to start thinking about restructuring now so that by the time we are in a position to take advantage of the changes that are coming it has all been worked out.
To make this revolution work we need to show our sport as being innovative, covering all levels of competence, can be a family outing for both men and women competing together as equals using the same equipment.
At the present time our ranges are constantly under threat of being closed down or sold off not only because of the falling club membership but by encroaching urban development or the tree changers who want to live in the bush but don’t want to smell the cow manure or hear the noise from farm animals or the odd shot.
The anti gun lobby would have you believe that we are a minority and it is only a matter of time before we are all gone.
Well as far as I am concerned this is far from the case especially if you consider that since Port Arthur the most popular shows on television seem to mostly involve firearms and there is a generation of young people who spend a large amount of time playing games on their computers and game boys that involve firearms and plenty of explosions, paintballing is popular and more women are joining the armed forces where they all have to do some firearms training.
How many parents of children who play all these popular shooting games do you think can be anti gun if they still let their children blast everything that moves on a computer screen?
Every day thousands of armed police and security guards wander our streets, shopping malls and schools and no one blinks an eye or runs screaming from them yet the only difference between them and us is a uniform and that makes them OK whilst I will bet that the average club shooter is more proficient with weapons than the majority of them.
There should be an annual competition between the best of the Armed Forces, Police Special Weapons Squads and target shooters to see who are the top teams and individuals and not only would this attract publicity and media coverage but I am sure there would be sponsorship dollars involved.
In New South Wales the population has voted two members of The Shooters Party to the Upper House and this is a party that is unambiguous in its name and what it stands for so there is a support base amongst the population who might not shoot but don’t see removing firearms as being necessary.
This young generation of gamers and paintballers is a large market we should be professionally targeting but we have to be innovative and make it attractive for them to not only think about the real thing but also get up from their computers and come and try it!
How do we make this work, attract people to come and try our sport, counter the biased publicity we get from the press and the anti gun lobby and convince all levels of Government that we are still strong and getting stronger, WE ADVERTISE, WE PROMOTE , RUN REGULAR OPEN DAYS AND CORPORATE EVENTS.
If a levy of $1 was paid by all shooters in all disciplines every time they attended a shoot, and let’s face it your dollar won’t buy you a beer or a litre of petrol but combined with my dollar it will buy a lot of advertising, and if this was paid into a national fund under the control of all the national governing bodies of all shooting disciplines we would not only have a large pool of funds but we would also have a very clear idea of just how many people regularly attend shooting events
This would be a very valuable statistic when dealing with the Government that has not been available to date.
In most instances the National Body would not want to be involved in day to day promotions and advertising so there should be a State committee to look after local interests.
Such funding, as well as advertising, could also finance a professionally run Web Page for all disciplines with links to all the shooting bodies so prospective shooters could obtain up to date information on all aspects of shooting as well as streaming video clips and running topical articles so it is an interesting site not only to shooters but also the general public.
If we are a regular advertiser the movement would no longer have to go cap in hand to the newspapers to have their weekly results published and shooting results would be less likely to be left out if there was a shortage of space.
The media would be more likely to ask for a quote or a response when a Government Minister or the anti gun lobby was carrying on and give a more balanced report if you are a regular advertiser.
Corporate days not only provide a higher profile but also make it easier to seek sponsorship funding in that sector and if you think about it electronic targets will provide an interesting day with big business being able to sit around in a large marquee watching a screen showing the progress of an important client or staff member trying their hand at several disciplines in much more comfort than splitting everyone up and wandering around a golf course all day.
It would be a much more impressive talking point at the office the next day or written up in in-house journals.
We also need to start promoting and advertising regular open days so that we can let the gamers and the general public know that they don’t have to be committed to shooting but can go to a range from time to time and try their hand and this will give us a chance to sell the sport.
If everyone could agree that we need to start a combined advertising campaign and that a $1 is not an unreasonable amount to contribute to see your sport lift its profile and membership and prosper then we are halfway there.
But this starts with the individual and you need to ask your club executive to write to your State Association requesting that they contact their National Body to meet with all the shooting disciplines to formulate a strategy to put this into motion.
This does not involve amalgamations or takeovers or a fight for mine is bigger than yours just the will to work together for every ones benefit.
If we start now by the time we have enough clubs of all disciplines across the country with electronic targets we will have built up a large pool of funds to start a concerted advertising campaign and run a dedicated web site.
A properly co-ordinated and professionally run advertising campaign will show that your dollar can make a difference and prove that our sport is not only relevant but growing.
Only we as members can make this happen.
The ability to work hard on one shot at a time.
by Don Brook
If your abilities are approaching the stage where you are wondering what the next step is in terms of competition performance, it will be a basis of relaxation, and the ability to generate very high levels of concentration.
Every top class performance has a very high mental content, and top scores in the shooting sports depend on how well you can devote your mental attention.
I want to introduce this subject by asking you a question.
“Based on a scale of one to Ten, how would you rate your ability to concentrate fully on one shot at a time.”
Some of you will rate highly on this, and most others will be able to reach a factor of 5 out of ten. The reason is that you have not considered the actual mental content, or do not know of the method involved.
The key is relaxation as a starting point, and then the ever increasing mental tenacity to reach the shot release, the follow through sequence. The really important stuff does not just stop there at shot release, you need to be able to drop down the relaxation curve to the point of start, so that you can build the ability to reach high concentration levels for the important next shot. This actually creates a flow graph, and every shooter at elite levels needs to be aware of this. It is better to individually create each single shot, master that shot, then go back into a relaxed state, therefore being able to reach high levels for the next shot.
It is difficult for any shooter to stay fully “up” in concentration levels for the entire match, even the maximum 15 of a full bore match. To think you can maintain extremely high levels for the 300 m 60 shots prone, you are having yourself on. The wave effect system where each shot is fired with full attention levels after the relaxed build up to that shot level is far easier to duplicate, and sustain, over a period of time.
It is critical that the position and Natural aim point is reached in a relaxed state, and this point is used as the starting gate for the performance. I call it the Point of initiation. Or trigger point if you like, for the mental process of releasing the shot under full mental strength to begin.
An offshoot of this technique is the ability to fire a single shot under full mental performance, every time, and eventually to reach the cross over point into the high level regions of sub conscious performance.
Wave effect teaches you to breathe correctly, and to control the shot release. It also devotes all your attention to the task of accumulating very high results, and divorces the competitor from any form of anxiety. The reason for this is that Wave effect is a conscious directive governed by the point of initiation for each single shot.
Wave effect, if developed correctly will allow the shooter to reach full potential of their trained ability in any competition, and become impervious to any form of anxiety over the performance and how it is developing. In short, YOU become masters of yourself.
The strongest shooters I have seen all have one thing in common, they KNOW they can do this. (What ever it is, or what goals they have set.) They chase these goals with the precise thinking of highly tuned and trained athletes. An example of this was Bruce Scott when he won the Commonwealth Games full bore individual Gold medal in Bendigo. 2007.
If you look hard at a competition, it always comes down to one shot performances. If you do each shot with the full devotion of your attention, the end result will look after itself.
The anxiety that does come as the goals are approached will only affect you if you let it. Wave effect concentration is the key to upper level performance. You are never concerned about the aggregate score, if you devote all your attention to the shot you are about to fire, this then becomes the ONLY task you have set for yourself. A single shot goal if you like…
It is really important that you must realise that once the shot is fired, you no longer have any influence over the result. Your performance prior to the firing pin fall has far more importance than the result. You learn from that result, and this is part of the preparation for the shot you are about to fire.
If your point of initiation is developed from the breathing cycle to fully relaxed, then the concentration curve is expanded up wards for each shot, the benefit will become apparent when the aggregate score is posted, because each shot would be fully acted out. The “One at a time” routine is crucial for any target sport, where the mind plays such a huge part in the success rate.
The trigger point is arrived at when the relaxation is in place by whatever means your techniques develop to relax. It is always connected with the breathing system. Once the rifle muzzle moves downwards from the aiming mark as you breathe in to where it stops under breath intake is the lower relaxation point on the wave effect graph.
In many cases with athletes there is always some imagery involved. Each of you should have some form of imagery to be able to relax when you need to. We have discussed this previously.
I like my pet Pelican Percy, as he skims across a calm lake. This imagery coupled with easy rhythmical breathing from the diaphragm is the most consistent method I have developed for me. Some like to use progressive muscle relaxation in the physical. It does not matter so long as you develop a method that works for you. It does take some devotion to training but the wave effect can certainly be developed by the breathing sequence, which causes the rifle muzzle to rise to the aiming mark (Prone).
Then as you approach the target to fire the shot, the intense focus levels increase and you move upwards on the scale. The shot is fully concentrated on, usually by visual content relative to finalising the aim. The high point up this wave is reached and the shot is released. The follow through process is carried out, and you go down the other side of the scale while the unloading, score verification and other details are noted. Once more you reach the bottom level of the scale and relax everything again.
When you have reached the point of initiation again under a fully relaxed attitude, you have completed the first of your waves then go about the process again, repeating exactly the process you have developed as you now approach the trigger point to start the climb up the graph again.
If you train this system into your mental techniques you will find that this too becomes an automatic sub conscious reaction. It becomes just a method to be able to compete. It is not difficult. You just need to become aware that it is part of your techniques now after the development that goes into putting it in place.
Many of you have the mental strength to perform at extremely high levels, and ultimately Wave effect will teach you to be able to perform at winning levels when you devote the method to your competition shooting.
Teams shooting, (full bore) is an incredibly good method to develop Wave effect Concentration, as you are dependent on the wind coach’s commands to initiate the shot release. The relaxation process is already in place as you go through the reloading process, and this can be used as the trigger point for performance. It is an ideal method and if developed fully can result in very high performances as the shooter develops a rapport with the wind coach.
Wave effect, coupled with the individual goals structure of the shooter for that particular shot is the fastest method I have found to winning performances.
In the individual competitions faced by the shooter, wave effect increases the ability to concentrate on, and fire one shot at a time. It also directs the attention away from the negative effects of perceived match pressure, and allows the shooter to fire this one shot in the chamber this time around without any form of negatives in the performance. Wave effect devotes your attention to detail, and allows you relax about the performance you are currently undertaking for this particular shot.
If you set a gaol for this shot, wave effect will help you achieve.
It isn’t easy for a shooter to develop the method, and unless it is done the breakthrough into very big results sometimes slips by without noticing it has.
Have you ever wondered why the same 10% of shooters win 90%of the matches?
I am concerned at the apparent lack of winners we have now in Australian smallbore, and while this may upset a few, let me state that is not my intention.
There is very much a difference in those that shoot well, and those that win. Have you ever wondered why the same 10% of shooters win 90% of the matches?
Are they any different to you? If so, why?
I am also concerned at the apparent lack of elite level coaching for the high grade teams, and make no bones about it, they are pretty thin on the top.
It is time that the elite level small bore shooters stood up to be counted, and make the jump from being good shooters to being winners.
Irrespective of how good the coaching is, the shooters need to realise that you have to do this yourself.
During the just passed Commonwealth Games, we saw the Indian shooters had taken major steps from their standard of four years ago.
Let me also say that the Australian’s do not seem to have gone anywhere from the standard displayed four years ago.
Do you think this is a coaching problem?
I doubt that, but I do know that the step from being good shooters in Australia to winning at Commonwealth, and then WORLD level is almost totally applicable to the ability to use your mind.
I know, I have been there and done that!
A few years ago, I had an incredible prone standard, training in excess of world records constantly, yet every time I visited the European circuit I was way behind what I was capable of…. I won championships by the dozens in all states of Australia, prize meetings, and club events in where ever I competed, yet I could not win in Europe. I averaged 598 plus in my training prone, and reached 600 I dunno how many times, yet when I competed in Europe where it really mattered to me, I shot 592’s.
My problem was between my ears!
I often wonder why a coach will also get hold of a shooter who is shooting well into the middle to high 590’s prone, then immediately alter a position that works! Just because it doesn’t look good….
Have a look at the positions of the elite level shooters on the world scene, and you can see heaps of them in that great book “Ways of the Rifle” by Maik Eckhardt and co. (Available through Kim Frazer.) Their positions are hardly classical in some cases, but, they MAKE them work! The true strength of a winner is not in the shooting platform, but in the mental strength they use.
Hubert Bickler, a German friend of mine has said to me the challenge of prone shooting is the devotion to putting them all in the ten ring. He is motivated by this thought, and sets his goals to achieving just that.
In Australia, the elite level coaching is lacking to the point of non existence. I know, I had to generate an enormous field of international coaching just to improve.
Don Tolhurst told me in 1958 when he came back from Moscow that I needed to explore the international coaches. In fact Tolly told me to go and live in the USA if I wanted to get anywhere fast.
It was in 1956 that I saw my first Australian Olympic Pocket on a blazer owned by Shirley Strickland. It was then I said “I want one of those, badly…”
I told Tolly this, and he showed me his, and to this day he remains the only smallbore shooter with FOUR pockets. I dribbled at the mouth!
These motivated me like you would not believe, and it was not until 1972 that I became a member of that elite Olympic family. It took me THAT long!
I came home from Munich, 1972, a far better shooter than when I left Australia, and it took me another 8 years before I started to win at world level.
Why? Because I didn’t think I was capable of it!
Graham Winter, a sports psychologist from the SASI gave me the method, and I was devoted to bringing it on.
So, what is the method for the Australian elite level? More importantly who?
In my life I have amassed an incredible library of psychological stuff I call it.
There is a huge section in most good quality libraries on the subject. It does take some reading, and devotion to be able to sort out the stuff from it that is applicable to you. I know that Yvonne Hill (SA) also has an incredible library, and is one of the very best thinkers in the sport. She was also an international winner in the hurly burly of European matches. (You think you can shoot a bit until you get over there!)
I have no doubt that the elite level shooters in Australian Small bore are fully capable of firing good shots. It is the accumulated performance that concerns me, and the ability in the mind to get over the hurdles of competition when faced with a seemingly supreme effort.
Graham Winter ran a good one past me in the form of a short verse.
“Life’s great battles do not go,
To the stronger, or faster man.
Sooner or later, the one who wins,
Is the one who KNOWS he can.
The mental program that confronts a sports person who spends his time training to remain perfectly still is incredibly deep, and convoluted.
I can tell you, right now, that the step up from being a good shooter, to winning at world level is vast. But it can be done, I did it, and so can you!
Do you think the Indian shooters relied on the enormous funding from the Indian government and sports system entirely? I doubt that, all they showed me, apart from their skills was their heart .
Do you think Australia’s Mike Diamond got to where he is by sitting on his butt? Or Russell Mark? Our highly successful (continuously) shotgun team?
I know the work that Bruce Scott did to win the full bore medal in an extremely strong WORLD class competition. (Different to small bore who had to only contend with the Commonwealth Nations, not that they were sub standard mind you, I am not inferring that!) I can tell you that Bruce Scott listened, and he had a fully set up program for the success he enjoyed in Bendigo. He did the work, and got the result.
I saw our Olympic Team selected, and I for one will be following with an enormous amount of interest this time. I wish the whole team the success they deserve, and I see a few of my friends still in the team. Well done on your selection. You have done the work to gain selection, now the work starts again!
Brooksie.
By Norm Rule
In 1960 the I.S.U. for the first time changed the 50m target. Fortunately the smaller 10 ring was within the capabilities of the average A grade shooter. And equipment.
Then, with the introduction of the smaller 10.4mm bullseye, that we shoot on now, against all odds the international shooters rose to the occasion and made it look easy. They, the rifles and ammunition had improved.
But what about the other 99% of club shooters throughout the world? Was this target the last straw that broke the camel's back? And has the club shooter now reached the point of no return? The scores at our nationals and state championships seem to indicate this, and surely we are no different to other countries!
Has the ISSF in its wisdom introduced this target unwittingly and created this problem which has put the kybosh on the club shooter?
I believe in several fundamentals that govern our sport. The more tens you hit then the more fun you have. Secondly, the clubs and their members are the breeding ground of future international shooters. Plain logic.
I believe that the NRA of America still shoots some of its national competitions on the "big bull" imperial target, similar to our "club" target. I feel we shouldn't be isolated from the international target, so what could be done to make it harder for the internationals and still make it easier for club shooters like you and me? Without changing the target.
It's on the cards that before the 2012 Olympics the ISSF will be doing a lot of thinking on a new target to counteract those 600s. If the ISSF is dinkum it should look at the big picture and this time leave the target well alone.
Sixty shots prone in the 50m English match has been with us for a long time. If this prone international match was modernised and taken to 80 shots, or better still, to 100 shots with a magic 1000 x 1000 it would border on a marathon for those international competitors, and not a Sunday morning shoot as it is now. And iron them out, not us!
It's time for a change which must focus on the grass roots as well as the internationals. Foster the clubs and you'll foster our future. No doubt revolutionary ideas will have erudite critics. There is always a better way.
By Norm Rule
For more years than I can remember there has been mentioned, even claimed, that there is such a thing as a “wind barrel”.
These are barrels that seem to perform better than others and are more accurate in windy conditions.
It would seem to me that if the barrel itself were the only factor in causing the bullet to be affected less by wind, then it would be an internal ballistics issue. This could not be so as the wind affects the bullet in flight and thus must be independent of the barrel as far as wind-bucking is concerned.
I’ve always believed that if other things are equal, such as the bullet weight, shape and the initial muzzle velocity, then the ballistics formula that governs wind deflection shall prevail. That is, the bullet that loses the least of its initial velocity by the time it reaches the target shows the least amount of wind deflection. This is known as the “lag time”.
If we look at the ballistics data provided by the ammunition manufacturers it would seem that their figures are not established by physical testing, but by mathematical calculation. All data from various makers seems to be from a ballistics formula and are consistently similar throughout.
Ballistics charts show that the 40gr .22 target ammunition with a muzzle velocity of approx. the speed of sound (325 m/sec) loses about 9% of its initial muzzle velocity (time lag) at 50m. By comparison the higher velocity .22 of approx. 410 m/sec loses around 17% of its velocity and thus has a greater wind deflection than the slower round, which we call target ammunition.
How could a barrel affect or alter the physics of external ballistics as far as wind deflection is concerned? It seems that it can’t. There is no doubt other factors influence wind deflection as well, but if other things are equal then wind deflection seems to coincide with “time lag” in all calibres. (The stability factor can have an influence on the vertical component of wind deflection, but few shooters deviate from the 1:16 twist – ed.)
We can at times be lead easily into believing that when we’re shooting well we have a barrel and ammo that doesn’t know what wind is. For some reason we can punch the centre out, irrespective of the weather conditions. At other times when we believe that we are doing exactly the same thing and with the same super “wind barrel” and the same pin-hole ammo, we have trouble in copying a shotgun!
The general consensus over the years seems to indicate that this phenomenon is a fallacy and it’s simply the fact that a particular barrel using pin-hole ammo in the hands of a champion is just a little more accurate within itself, when compared to others.
I agree, but that’s only my opinion. I still want one!