Today we shot the Ole Smokey Benchrest, and the centrefire groupings:

Ole Smokey – 50 shots off the bench, any rimfire rifle.  Olivia B 490/500, Derek B 485, Ben G 485, Lainey B 483, Alan C 478, Bruno K 464, Pennie L 442.  These are good scores, considering we are now using outward scoring (ie a shot touching the 10-ring is scored outwards as a 9).

Centrefire 100 yards – smallest 3-shot group.  Bruno K 15.4mm, Lainey B 19.1mm, Olivia B 26.4mm, Alan C 42.3mm.

Centrefire 200 yards – Alan C 18.8mm (an outstanding group, equivalent to 0.37 MOA), Bruno K 32.6mm (0.64 MOA), Lainey B 60.5mm, Olivia 65.9mm

Congratulations also to young Tuvia for completing the training for his Junior’s Permit, with a perfect score.

Our next shoot is SATURDAY 13^th April at Macksville SSAA range from 10am, with the Handicap Shoot round 1 and the RO Davie Light Rimfire round 2.  Rimfire only, no centrefires. Don’t forget the Bellingen Branch SSAA Annual General Meeting is on Wednesday 10^th April at 7pm, at the Mylestom Community Hall (this also counts as a Club attendance, by the way).

Sunday 4^th February 2024

Like last year, before each shoot we’ll be conducting some coaching, teaching and practice before each competition.  For the first Club shoot of the year we started with some theory on the Principles of Marksmanship.  It was also great to see three new shooters completing their Safe Shooting Course, and another trying out the sport on a P650 permit.

This year, we will be doing OUTWARDS scoring on the targets.  That is, to score a 10, the shot needs to be fully within the ‘10’ ring and not touching it.  A shot touching the 10 ring will be scored as a 9.  Previously the scoring had been ‘inwards’, where any shot touching the ‘10’ ring would be scored a 10, but folks are starting to get such good scores that we need a way to separate them!

Today’s results:

R O Davies light rimfire, using a rifle with a sporter or mid-weight barrel and a telescopic sight at 6x magnification.  Ben G 488/500, Olivia 483, Alan C 472, Tony 465, Alan N 456, Bill Y 440, Dave S 399.

Ladies’ Competition:  Olivia 484/500.

Junior Shield:  any rimfire rifle from a benchrest.  Nil entrants today.

Our next Shoot is on Sunday 10th March at Dairyville, coaching from 12.00pm to 12.30pm in Grouping and Fault Correction, then the Ole Smokie Shield and Centrefire 100m and 200m.

The range program for 2024 is now available on the website. This year we’ve included a Handicap Shoot, with your handicap being calculated on your last few scores in the Ole Smokey Benchrest. Also, we’re no longer charging the extra $2 in range fees for the Club. Looking forward to another good year with Club.

Sunday 10 December 2023

The 2023 Christmas BBQ and presentation of trophies was held on Sunday 10 December, with 28 of the Club faithful.  Here are the results:

Ole Smokey Benchrest

1^st (equal)  Lainey B, 1^st (equal) Ian J, 3^rd  Pat L

Most Improved:  Alan N

R O Davie Light Rimfire

1^st  Olivia B, 2^nd  Teon J, 3^rd (equal)  Pat L, 3^rd (equal) Ian J

Junior Shield

1^st (equal)  Lainey B, 1^st (equal) Paddy B, 3^rd  Alex D

Ladies’ Competition

1^st  Olivia B, 2^nd  Lainey B, 3^rd  Kerry J

George Joannidis Field Rifle

1^st  Darren S, 2^nd  Derek B, 3^rd  Ben G

Gleniffer Shield

1^st  Derek B, 2^nd  Alan C, 3^rd  Ian J

Centrefire 100m

1^st  Derek B, 2^nd  Lainey B, 3^rd  Julian K

Centrefire 200m

1^st  Bruno K, 2^nd  Olivia B, 3^rd  Derek B

Military Rifle

1^st  Alan C, 2^nd  Derek B, 3^rd  Lainey B

That concludes the shooting calendar for 2023.  We’ll publish the 2024 program on this website when dates are confirmed.

Sunday 12 November

It was the ladies’ and juniors’ turn today, for Round 2 of their respective comps.

Ladies’ Competition Round 2:

Olivia B 499

Vanessa S  473

Tracey H 471

Junior Shield Round 2:

Paddy B 486

Alex D 479

Teon 476

Our final shoot of the year is the Christmas BBQ Lunch and Silhouette shoot on SUNDAY 10^th DECEMBER, at the Dairyville Range starting at midday.  This year we will also be presenting 2023 trophies and awards at the BBQ, rather than at the Annual General Meeting in 2024.  As usual there will be some goodies for giveaway as lucky door prizes.  The BBQ lunch is free for Bellingen Branch SSAA members.

The program for the day will be lunch at midday, followed by prizes and awards, and finishing with the favourite “rat and blowfly” rimfire silhouette shoot.  As usual the range will stay open afterwards for general sighting in and practice.

We hope to see you all there!

Saturday 19^th August

Full benches at the Macksville SSAA range this morning for the RO Davies light rimfire shoot.  This match is for any rimfire rifle, but with the telescopic sight set at 6.5x to simulate what you’d typically use in the field.  Some very close scores:

487/500 Darren S

485  Fitzy, Tony and Derek

483  Pat L and Ben G

478  Teon J

471  David S and Peter J

454  Alan C

Our next shoot is on SUNDAY 3^rd September at Dairyville, with Round 2 of the Ole Smokey Shield (rimfire benchrest) starting at midday, followed by centrefire practice.  Range Officers for the day are Derek and Fitzy.

Sunday 23^rd July

A lovely day at Dairyville Range for Round 2 of the George Joannidis Field Rifle Shoot, which is always fun.  The match was 10 shots deliberate unsupported at 50m then 10 shots rapid fire at 50m, followed by 10 shots kneeling, 10 shots standing deliberate and 10 shots standing rapid at 25 metres.  The rapid fire sequence is 10 shots within 60 seconds.

There were only 3 points separating first from third:

Darren S 423/500

Derek B 421

Ben G 420 (a great result for one who hasn’t shot for a while)

Alex C 328

Lainey B 323

Col F 319

Bruno K 285

The highest score from Round 1 on 15^th April was 380, also by Darren, who has clearly been putting in a few sneaky practice sessions.

There were also two catch-up targets for the Ole Smokey match – Lainey B on 492/500, and Col F on 478/500.

Our next shoot is on SATURDAY 19^th August at MACKSVILLE SSAA Range, which will be Round 2 of the R O Davies Light Rimfire match.  This match is for any rimfire rifle at 50 metres, but with the telescopic sight set at no more than 6.5x.

Saturday 17 June

A small group of diehards attended the shoot at Macksville SSAA range, contesting the Gleniffer Shield.  This is 50 scoring shots off the elbows – no front or rear rests allowed.

Derek B 472/500

Alan C  447

Ian J 417

Col Fitz 375

Tony H 369

Pat L  360

Our next shoot is in 3 weeks at Macksville SSAA range, on SATURDAY 8^th July from 10:00am to 4:00pm.  This will be a practice and coaching session (rimfire only, no centrefire is permtted on Saturdays).

We will also be conducting a Safe Shooting Course from 10:00am.  Anyone wishing to do the course should register with the Club secretary at ssaabellingen@gmail.com for further details.

See the Club website bellingenrifleclub.org for directions to the Macksville range.

Sunday 21 May

Centrefire best group of 3 at 100m (Noting prior best from earlier round was 16.8mm

              Lainey 19.3mm

              Derek 29.6mm

              Bruno 38.0mm

              Penne 39.7mm

              Tony 47.6mm

              Liv 63.2mm

Centrefire best group of 3 at 200m: (Noting prior best from earlier round was 37.9)

              Bruno 32.0mm

              Derek 40.8mm

              Penne 50.6mm

              Tony 61.6mm

              Liv 89.1mm

              Lainey 90.1mm

Military Rifle open or iron sites, best group of 5 at 50 or 100m (measurements at 50m have been doubled)

Best group for each participant (multiple entries allowed)

              Alan C. 69.0mm

              Derek 81.4mm

              Lainey 114.5mm

              Tony 266mm

              Alan N. 320mm

Well done Lainey, Bruno & Alan! 

NEXT SHOOT:  Please note SATURDAY (not usual Sunday) 17^th June at Macksville Range, 10am for practice and 11am for the only round of the Gleniffer Shield comp, which is any rimfire off the elbows at 50m (I.e no bench rest), so make the most of the practice beforehand!

The range officers for the day are Russell and Ian.  An email will be sent beforehand to remind you and give directions.

Saturday 15 April 2023

We had another fun morning at the Macksville Range on Saturday, with many thanks to Derek for walking us through the ever tough field shoot!  This consisted of 10 rounds deliberate and 10 rounds rapid at 50m, followed by serials at 25m of kneeling, standing, and standing rapid fire.

Darren won the day scoring an impressive 380 – Well done! 

Pat  343

Teon  310

Olivia 308

David 305

Bill 253

Rodney 191 The next shoot is at Dairyville on Sunday 21st of May from midday.  Coaching prior to the shoot will be on zeroing a rifle and adjusting the scope.   Range officers are Derek and Tony from 9am, with Ian and Col from 12noon.  The comp will be the second round of Centrefire at 100 and 200m,  and the first Military Rifle comp – using any military rifle with iron sights (303, 22, 310 cadet or whatever you have under 8mm).