Bedfordshire Smallbore Shooting Association

Entries are now open for the 25 yd Indoor Prone Rifle Match and the 10m Airgun Match, to be held at the Bedford (Clapham) range on the 28/29th January 2023.

The Prone Rifle Match consist of two details, each of 40 shots on NSRA 2510BM 1989 series targets – Aggregate ex 800. There will be a 50 minute break between details. Competitors are classified in four classes: BSSA ‘X’ class is made up of shooters in & previously in X Class within the past 3 years, Nationally Classified ‘X’ Class competitors will be placed in Class ‘X’; all other competitors will be placed in three equal classes as far as possible, according to submitted average. All competitors other than ‘X’ Class are required to submit an average based on the best 5 of the last 6 indoor scores.Further details and the entry form may be downloaded here.

The Bench Rest competition will be shot in one class on a squadded basis with 80 shots to count in two 40 shot details. It is an any sights competition to be shot at 25 yds. Own rests are to be brought by the shooters competing. Two firing points per detail will be allocated for bench rest competitor, please annotate your entry form with ‘Bench rest’ or contact Steve Beadle directly (contact details on entry form) if you wish to enter this discipline.

The Airgun competition is in three categories: Air Pistol, Air Rifle (precision) and Air Rifle (Sporter).

Air Pistol & Rifle (precision)

Comp 1 – 60 shot course of fire at Air4/89-18 or A3/89-18 10m targets.

Comp 2 – Second 60 shot course, scores aggregated with Comp 1.

Air rifle (Sporter) – 40 shots at 10m.

Entry forms for these competitions may be downloaded from:

Prone and Bench Rest Entry Form

Airgun Entry Form

Round 3 of the Frostbite League was shot in cold but, luckily, still conditions.

As usual, Round 3 incorporates the Christmas shoot, five shots in two minutes, with the aim being to miss the elves (-25 points) who are busy decorating the Christmas tree and, if you’re feeling lucky, hit the star (+25 points).  For the benchrest competitors the challenge was greater, as they had to shoot at a reversed target. As usual the scores were entertaining, the winning score being 55,  the lowest  was -92 points, a new record.

The results for the ‘serious’ competition were:

Round 3 also sees the Half-Way prizes in each class, these are based on the best two 0f the three rounds shot thus far. Winners were:

Round 4 (100yds) of the Frostbite League will take place on the 8th January.
Too early for a reliable forecast, but hopefully the current “Troll of Trondheim” will have passed on.
There is a slim chance that it may be possible to enter on the day, but please check with the organiser Steve Beadle, (Email: stevebeadle1960@hotmail.co.uk, Tel: 07720 677456) before travelling.

Round 2 of the Frostbite League was shot in relatively mild, sunny and still conditions. Light conditions proved tricky, with many complaining of difficulty discerning the shot holes, which could appear and disappear as the light changed.

The regular organiser had been granted medical leave but the substitutes appeared to be coping well – until it came to the results. After a couple of mis-cues prizes were awarded, but a post-event review revealed an error in the positions for Competition 1; therefore, two first places in this competition have been awarded.

Round 3 (50m) of the Frostbite League will take place on the 4th December and this will also include the Christmas fun shoot. Competitors wishing to take part in the fun shoot should bring a wrapped prize, to a value of about £5 is recommended.
The forecast suggests that this should be another mild day, with a gentle breeze.
There is a slim chance that it may be possible to enter on the day, but please check with the organiser Steve Beadle, (Email: stevebeadle1960@hotmail.co.uk, Tel: 07720 677456) before travelling.

Though damp, the rain held off for Round 1 of the Frostbite League to be shot in relatively mild and still conditions. Results were:

Round 2 (100 yards) of the Frostbite League will take place on the 20th November. The forecast suggests that this should be another mild day, with a chance of rain and a moderate breeze.
Unfortunately, due to the limited range space, we cannot offer entry on the day for this event.

In view of the reduced entry Classes B & C were combined and the scores based on the MacRae handicap system; whilst Classes X and A stayed as a straight gun score competition.

The weather was relatively benign, with sunny intervals and a light wind,  so for once the wind flags had little to do. Despite the apparently favourable conditions, there was just one ‘possible’ achieved and that was at 100 yds.

The winners were:

BSSA 800 (80 @ 50m)

X Class

A Class

Classes B & C  Combined

Benchrest

Optional Shoot (50 @ 100 yds) 

Class X

Class A

Classes B & C Combined

Full results may be found here.

The mysteries of the MacRae handicap system are explained here.

BSSA 800
Sunday 25th September 2022
80 SHOTS @ 50 metres, prone and benchrest.
Plus optional 50 shots @100yds, prone only

VENUE: Bedford Rifle Range, Clapham Road, Bedford MK41 6EN

SQUADDING: All competitors will be squadded. The first squad will commence prompt at
10.00 am (Range will be open by 9.00 am). Each detail will be 30 minutes, 20 minutes for
shooting and 10 minutes for target changing. Squadding details will be emailed to each
competitor. Postal squadding notice can be given, if stamped address envelope is
enclosed with entry form.

RANGE COMMITTEE: All disputes shall be referred to the Range Committee, any three of
whom shall form a quorum.

TARGETS: N.S.R.A. 1989 series 50 metre & 100 yard targets will be used.

Entry form and full conditions may be downloaded here.

BSSA Frostbite League

The BSSA Frostbite will commence on Sunday 6th November, at the Bedford Rifle Range. Entries close on the 1st November, though it may be possible to enter on the day if space permits.
Dates for subsequent rounds are:

20th November
4th December
8th January
22nd January
12th February

Full details and entry form may be found here.

Entries are now open for the BSSA 25yd pairs competitions.

Entries for the winter 2022/23 25yd competition close on the 12th September with the first round to be shot by the 1oth October. Further details and entry form may be found here.

Initial indications were that the entries for this meeting would be fairly low; therefore it was decided to amalgamate the entries into a single class and run two parallel competitions: one based on straight gun score the second based on the MacRae handicap system. To ensure the prizes were distributed widely, competitors could only win one prize, with the Gun Score contest taking priority.

In the event, a number of locals who were participating in the Dewar Trials at the Appleton Range on the Saturday and were therefore doubtful if they could also make an appearance at Bedford on the Sunday, were able to attend; making a reasonably healthy field of 16 prone and 4 benchrest shooters.

The weather forecast was for sunny intervals and a ‘fresh breeze’; the latter appears to be a bit of a misnomer, meaning a wind of 19-24 mph (Wind Force 5) in which ‘Small trees in leaf begin to sway’. Judging by the ‘sway’ of the larger trees neighbouring the range the gusts were somewhat stronger. The wind flags were as helpful as usual, appearing to be randomly pointing in any and all directions. The challenge of the conditions resulted in no ‘possibles’ being achieved and only four ’99s’ at 100 yds.

The winners were:

Grand Slam (60 @ 100 yd) Gun Score Competition

Grand Slam (60 @ 100 yd) MacRae Handicap Competition

Benchrest (60 @100 yds) Gun Score only

Optional Shoot (40 @ 50m) Gun Score Competition

Optional Shoot (40 @ 50m) MacRae Handicap Competition

Full results may be found here.

The mysteries of the MacRae handicap system are explained here.

Detailed results of the 2022 County Championships may be found here.
The winners table is:-