Burnley and District Air Rifle League

It is David Parkes 55th wedding anniversary today.

I would like to take this moment and wish him and his good lady Jean a very happy anniversary.

From all here at Burnley and District Air Rifle League.

Taking the image below as an example as members may be able to find a more expensive model. Which in this case is a Centra Spy. Do our members think this upgrade is a worthwhile outlay.

Or are we just in the position of thinking we see a better football game from the corporate seats.

I must confess that the front globe sight can be as important as the diopter. There are many options on the market.

The items shown below though represent the best advance in technology. Although they cannot be described as cheap. They do represent a good investment.

The Feinwerkbau 300S. The best 10 metre target air rifle never to win an Olympic Gold Medal.

Although dominant in the World Championships by 1984 Feinwerkbau had moved on to the SSP design. The last recoilless springer to win Gold is a Anschutz 380 match.

If you are looking for information as to which is the best new target air rifle. Don't bother as there isn't one. Everyone will have their particular favourite. Probably what they own. To be honest all the target air rifles will do the job better than our ability. They have done for decades.

If you look at the World Championships there will be a plethora of manufacturers represented. Yes sponsorship comes in to the equation at that level. However even if we move down the amateur scales the variation will still occur.

In essence whatever your budget they all will be accurate and consistent. Yes it is about ability. However that shouldn't spoil anyone's enjoyment. That's what handicaps were invented for.

It has come to my attention that the 16mm front sight inserts. Which most early target air rifles used. Are now getting harder to purchase. This is due to the modern globe tunnel sight using 18 or 22mm units. Most target air rifle participants use the clear or tinted versions featured below.

However there is always someone who will still offer the items if you look hard enough. I just noticed that places like Intershoot had stopped stocking them.

I posted these facts on another group. I must confess to being surprised at some of the comments. Members may add or comment if they wish.

Target air rifle accuracy was nailed decades ago.
You can purchase the best equipment. That is air rifle, clothing, accessories. It will always come down to ability.
The P*P target air rifle has allowed the women to catch up to the men and perhaps overtake.

The main improvements in the sport at competitive level.

The electronic scoring system.
The wider choice and quality of the diabolo wad cutter pellet.
Facilities.
Money.

I have seen many developments in the genealogy and evolution department of the 10 metre target air rifle discipline. It is fascinating to say the least.

I don't own a P*P air rifle of any variety. This doesn't mean to say that I don't recognise the influence and drive this technology has had on the sport. It's massive. I would go as far as to say it out performs ability and drive. In driving the sport forward. Technology has had a big impact. To prove my point. Imagine the introduction of a 10 shot magazine in to the sport.

Yesterday I posted about a woman by the name of Anjali Bhagwat. The first woman World Champion at 10 metre target air rifle.

Her latest project is Fundook. A laser based pellet free sport. It has been designed to compliment and assist in the lead pellet equivalent. Do members see this as a threat to the current set up? Can we see this as a sport in its own right growing? Olympic medals and World Championships?

In this day and age of inclusion. I struggle to find a reason why the 10 metre discipline is still split men and women. There are only two Olympic sports where the two genders can compete on equal terms. Equestrian dressage being the other. So why do we still have the division?

Over twenty years ago in Munich there was an unofficial shoot off between the men and women. All the men were eliminated and only the women left. Eventually Anjali Bhagwat triumphed to win herself a cash prize.

She became the first woman to be the World number one in the sport in 2002.

The two items featured below can be a good investment. Whatever age your target air rifle happens to be. Both can be fitted to your diopter.

The adjustable iris can come in various guises. Some include coloured filters. The ability to adjust your sight window as it were can be very handy. Not everyone gets the correct amount of light through the standard fixed iris. So this precision add on can work wonders for your comfort and sight picture.

The anti-glare tube. Is another handy addition to the diopter. Depending on light conditions whilst you are participating. You could experience glare within your sight picture. The tube eliminates this. You can make your own which I have done. Or source a pre made item online.

I didn't realise how much target air rifle snobbery existed. Until I posted on the other group. I asked that membership if the current UK manufactured target rifles should be patronised because they are made here.

This includes the Air Arms MPR Precision and the BSA Silverstar. The MPR is four figures to own. So how on earth you could say it is only fit for juniors beggars belief. The triggers were mentioned. I know for a fact both triggers are fantastic and fully adjustable. In fact Air Arms don't do woolly triggers.

It's like saying the Italians are best for shoes and the Germans are best at making cars. Which is wrong and ridiculous. Yes the German manufacturers excel at target air rifles. Again though the UK manufactured examples are way better than anyone who uses them.