Issue link: http://ssaansw.uberflip.com/i/867530
A keen group of SSAA NSW Griffi th Branch members awaited the outcome of a successful inspection of the Rankins Spring range earlier this year when it was approved for the Big Game Rifl e Match. The inaugural event was held there on 1 and 2 July with at least 20 shooters interested in trying out their large calibre rifl es at this challenging match. Organised by SSAA NSW Griffi th Branch's Adriaan Shields, already a BGR shooter and African hunter, practice was organised for competitors to sight in rifl es on the Saturday followed by a camp over and three matches on Sunday. Matches included the 'Charging Lion' and 'Running Rhino' at 25m, 50m & 75m with a 'Pot Rifl e' event for hunting rifl es at 200m. All matches required 6 shots to be fi red in 25 seconds, including reloading the rifl e. Members attended with some serious hunting rifl es that mostly had very little use until now. Bolt action models in .458 Win, .458 Lott, .416 Ruger, 375 H&H and 9.3 x 62 lined up together with a plethora of lesser calibres like 45/70, 375 Win and .303 British. During the practice session everyone had the chance to share rifl es and experience fi ring some of these calibres not usually seen on a rifl e range. Now that the range is approved for Group 3 calibres, some members are considering upsizing to larger calibres. At the conclusion of what was a successful and enjoyable fi rst BGR Match, local shooters Trevor Allen emerged as the Overall Winner while Alf Guglielmino won the "Sore Shoulder" prize. Regular shoots are planned for the fi rst weekend of each month. Further information can be obtained by contacting Adriaan Shields 0429 915 095. BIG GAME RIFLE COMES TO THE RANKINS SPRINGS RANGE Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. 17 Benchrest: Dave Billinghurst 0418 478 160 Big Game: Ben Doherty 0409 831 258 Colonial Action: Bob Conran 0419 423 161 Field Rifl e & 3P: Gerald Watters 0414 526 621 Single Action: Dennis Jackson 0418 674 531 Pistol: Beau Griffi th 02 4734 6734 Lever Action: Don Chesworth 02 6628 3979 Muzzleloading: Shayne Barnsley 0418 302 062 Rifl e Silhouette: Tim Barry 0419 405 696 Combined Services: Corey Garbutt 0427 634 543 Shotgun: Greg Allen 0409 444 955 Discipline Coordinator: Warren Brown 0428 623 161 Discipline Chairmen