Statistics above, show interesting results
The IBS 600 Yard Nationals at Yukon, MO was only the second sanctioned 600 yard match I have shot in (but have shot in many informal 600 yard matches here in Louisiana). I have experienced shooting multiple targets in one relay at Byers, CO but that was a 1000 yard match and an NBRSA match also. Possibly some new shooters are not familiar with the two target per relay method, so a brief explanation might make the statistics above more understandable.
At the Yukon Nationals, eight targets were fired in LG and eight targets were fired in HG, both LG and HG targets were 5-shot groups, thus eighty rounds for record were fired by competitors shooting in both LG and HG classes.
Each shooter completed his eight LG groups in four relays thus requiring shooting two targets per relay. The same scenario was followed for HG. Thus targets #1 and #2 were fired together in one relay or one setting at the bench by a shooter. Also #3 and #4 targets were fired together, #5 and #6 together and #7 and #8 together.
There were enough shooters to require five relays and since shooting started at about 9:00 A.M., Targets #1 and #2 were completed by all shooters by roughly 11:00 A.M. (just a guess). Targets #3 and #4 were completed at roughly 1:00 P.M., Targets #5 and #6 by roughly 3:00 P.M. and targets #7 and #8 by roughly 5:00 P.M. That was the first day, 9/30/2011, for LG. Shooting went faster on the second day, 10/01/2011, for HG.
With that done, look at the statistics for the four pairs of targets for LG and HG shown in the post above. On average for the sixty shooters the best groups and worst scores were fired on Targets #1 and #2 for both LG and HG. (Possibly light winds helped groups and difficulty in seeing sighters, due to natural lighting, in early relays hurt average scores.)
For Targets #3 and #4, groups increased in size and scores improved, for both LG and HG.
For Targets #5 and #6, groups increased in size again but scores decreased, for both LG and HG.
For Targets #7 and #8, groups reduced in size and scores increased to the highest levels, for both LG and HG. (Possibly the wind declined late in the afternoon and improved lighting, with the Sun behind shooters, improved more accurate location of sighter impacts.)
The relatively large sample size of 60-shooters firing 480-LG groups and 480-HG groups apparently was able to reflect the varying effects of wind and natural lighting throughout the two days of shooting as indicated by both LG and HG groups and scores tracking parallel perfectly, in terms of the directional changes in group size and score value. The wind levels were probably lower the second day but possibly the profile of wind velocities throughout the two days were similar in shape.
The mention of the Sun rising just to the right of the line of sight at the Yukon range, in another thread, is not a complaint but just a statement of fact. Several other ranges that have hosted IBS Long Range Nationals had a similar lighting situation. A match director has a difficult time conducting a match fair to all shooters, dealing with fog, wind, rain and natural lighting. The folks at Midwest Benchrest, Yukon, MO did a great job in completing the two days of shooting and awards on schedule and with plenty of daylight to spare. Not to mention, a great time with plenty of shooting for all.
Henry
