SSAA NSW

Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. 7 competition of the day was the Stalking Double Rifl e event which is an event for smaller calibre double rifl es as would be used for deer hunting. This event has rapid fi re sections which, if your double rifl e does not have ejectors, can prove to be a bit of a fi ngernail destroying experience as you frantically try to haul sticky cartridge cases out of the chambers. The second event for Sunday was the Stopping Double Rifl e event, which is one of the most important Big Game Rifl e matches because it is designed for heavy calibre doubles. Calibres of the rifl es used included 450/400 Nitro Express, 458 Winchester Magnum (many double rifl es were made in this calibre after the British stopped loading big game rifl e calibres by the mid-1960's), and 470 Nitro Express. The next event was the Nitro Group Two and calibres used included 450/400 Nitro Express, 416 Rigby, 458 Winchester Magnum, 458 Lott, and the unusual 470 Capstick. Despite their substantial recoil such rifl es can be very enjoyable to shoot, all it takes is practice. Group Two was followed by Bore Guns and Rifl es in which either black or nitro powder guns can be used with either smooth or rifl ed barrels. Bore Guns and Rifl es start at 12 bore and up and not only are they enormous fun to shoot but they leave enormous holes in the target, such that the shooter can often guess how they're doing by the holes visible from the fi ring line: no spotting scopes permitted, nor necessary. The fi nal event of the State Titles was the Light Nitro supplementary match, which can be shot with any centre- fi re rifl e from .223" and up and is another excellent match for clubs to try out Big Game Rifl e as most shooters will have a rifl e that qualifi es, be it a 243 bolt action or a 45-70 lever. At the end of the day the medals were presented and there were also some gifts for the shooters who had made the journey to Rankins Springs to participate, helping the Big Game Rifl e discipline prosper and grow. Our special thanks go to the organisers and members of SSAA NSW Griffi th Branch who hosted the State Titles at the Rankins Springs Range. Our thanks also go to those who travelled quite signifi cant distances, such as our interstate shooters, and to the local people who turned up to be a part of the fun. The 2018 State Titles were so well run that we hope to see another Big Game Rifl e State Titles held there in the future. Results Saturday Pot Rifl e (2) 1. Jonathan Branch (NSW): 139.01 2. Andy Mallen (NSW): 137.01 3. Ben Doherty (NSW): 131.01 Special Snap 1. Robert Christopher (Victoria): 76.01 2. Mark Savage (Queensland): 73.02 3. Andy Mallen (NSW): 68.01 Group One 1. Robert Christopher (Victoria): 164.01 2. Mark Savage (Queensland): 163 3. Ben Doherty (NSW): 158.02 Black Powder Express 1. Mark Savage (Queensland): 150.01 2. Robert Christopher (Victoria): 143.01 3. Andy Mallen (NSW): 99 Sunday Stalking Double Rifl e 1. Robert Christopher (Victoria): 102.01 2. Mark Savage (Queensland): 91.01 3. Andy Mallen (NSW): 83.01 Stopping Double Rifl e 1. Robert Christopher (Victoria): 79 2. Mark Savage (Queensland): 75 3. Andy Mallen (NSW): 74 Group Two 1. Robert Christopher (Victoria): 121 2. Mark Savage (Queensland): 109 3. Graham Picton (NSW): 106 Bore Guns and Rifl es 1. Robert Christopher (Victoria): 105.01 2. Mark Savage (Queensland): 100.02 3. Adriaan Shields (NSW): 52 Light Nitro 1. Ben Doherty (NSW): 179 2. Andy Mallen (NSW): 170 3. Adriaan Shields (NSW): 166

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