Whipped this up today for scoring targets.  Slight angle so one does not have to hunch over a flat surface to score targets.







CALVIN

I have had a few e-mails and calls about the flooding in Brandon.  I am okay.  High and dry.  No fear of flooding where I am.  If I were to get flooded Lake Aggasiz would cover a good part of Manitoba.  I like Rick's thought, Noah would be riding by in an Ark.

I have never seen so much water in my life and moving so fast.  To those in the Red River Valley this would be normal.  For Brandon not so normal.  It is a record flood here for us, the highest ever recorded.  The kicker that makes it so bad is the building of the box mall and residential homes in the flood plain.  There is a dike in place and it was raised a meter over the winter to contain what was figured the flow would be.  I would say in the last 4 days the city, highways and every truck, cat, hoe or loader in Brandon has been working around the clock.  If Brandon survives words will NEVER express the thanks to the men and women who worked there butts off.

Here is a link to one of the flood cameras.

http://brandon.westmancom.com/index.php?id=10027

The supersandbags in the picture are about 4'x4'x4'.  The dike started out 2 wide on the bottom with one on top.  At this point right in the intersection it is 5 wide on the bottom, 4 wide on top of that and 2 wide on top of that.  They say the pressure on the bags is 4300 lbs per square inch.

There is a dike like that on 1st street but it is on both sides of the street.  Those are the main access points from the transcanada highway.  1st street is closed at this time as the dike is leaking quite bad.  They appear to be hauling clay and the military has been called in to assist on the dike to open the street.

This link will get you some aerial photos.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=209849252368970&set=pu.107304722623424&type=1&theater

I have in the last little while had some e-mails about why BRSC does not have any VFS.  There was also mention about a Factory and a Factory Modified class that could be part of this.

Am I the person who can answer all of these questions?   Unfortunately not.  I am a group shooter and understand that aspect of shooting.  When it comes to score if it were just Hunter, Hunter Varmint, or VFS it would be no issue.  Where the challenge lies is there are numerous clubs around the country who hold score shoots.  Many of these shoots are VERY successful with good attendance, 20-25 shooters per match.  They kick the group shoot attendances in the butt.  The problem is, these clubs all have their own rules and classes to fit the local shooter in.  From what I see all the clubs are different.

There is Campbell River, Lethbridge, Kenora, Southern Ontario, Quebec, and I cannot remember the name of the club on the east coast that hold score shoots.  Volker, please chime in.  Lethbridge holds their shoot as a weekly league shoot.  It would be pretty tough to turn that into something that BRSC could sanction.

The kicker is are the clubs that hold these score shoots wanting to step up to the plate to make the next step?  Are the shooters up to the challenge?  There comes a time where one does or does not make the next jump.

Rules, firing procedure, weight restrictions, scoring, bottom line is that CONSISTENCY amongst clubs has to be in place to make it work.  Southern Ontario uses the 11 point system which I love the idea and concept.  Are clubs willing to change to this format?

There are records for score currently in place which can be contested but the above mentioned items must be met.

Those that are interested please chime in.  Share how your clubs manage these score shoots.  Is someone willing to step up to the plate to talk with the numerous clubs and see if we can get these clubs involved?  Get more participation out there.  It is more than just competing. I look at it in a way that maybe BRSC could one day be recognized on the world front.

Let’s have at this one.  If people are serious about this, the conversation should be interesting.  If not well we will have our answer in short order.  It is one thing to want but the key is to actually step up to the plate and have it happen.    

Calvin

Here is a new On-Line Membership form.  Download it, fill it out, print it out, and mail it with the appropriate funds to the address on the form.

2011 BRSC Membership Form

Calvin
Interm President BRSC

Good luck to the Canadian contingent,  Doug, Max, Phil and Robert.  Give er HELL.............

Oh and Doug tells me it WILL NOT RAIN.  He says it was in the 80's yesterday and to be that way into the weekend.

Calvin

Just wondering who has some?

Bill Gammon has done a GREAT job scanning the issues of the magazine that used to be published.  There are isues he is looking for to try and complete the collection.  There is a post in regards to the issues in question.  If you have any please take some time to thumb through them.  It would be nice to have as many scanned as possible.

Pictures or other old articles would be nice as well.  Murray Benson has some along with EVERY match report and equipment list since Selkirk started.  I am hoping to get those scanned as well.  He is short a few matches so I MUST get off my butt and get those completed.

I also have talked with Paul Ross in regards to anything record related.  He is to be sending me some STUFF along with some pictures.

Let's not loose sight of the history of Benchrest in Canada.

Bill if you have any pics or other articles from the East it would be nice to see some of them.

We still have some winter left so now is the time to do this.................

Cheers
Calvin

Rick sent me some info about polishing the guts of the Jewells to smooth them out.  I did 2 last year but was a bit skeptical as I did not have a spare at hand if I did something WRONG.  Well I took my new spare and tore into it.  What a difference.  Very basic stuff.

I will share the info if you feel adventurous.  This was information from a post on BR Central by Jack Neary.

OK... Here's your trigger improvement tip for the day from my new weekly anal Reloading Show on PBS network!

DISCLAIMER: Do Not Use Bullseye Powder to fix your trigger! (Sorry, Jackie... I saw the shot and I took it!)

First... get a clean white towel (please avoid taking the nice new bathroom towel with your bride's name on it to use for this operation....trust me here, guys!)
Lay your grit-filled trigger on your clean white towel (You can see the little parts better a white towel... just a tip from the trades) as it will help to keep all the parts from bouncing underneath your workbench 

Next.... You must use a proper fitting Phillip screw driver (I bought a Husky Pro #544-572 #1 tip Phillips screwdriver from Home Depot that fits the screws in the Jewell perfectly, this is extremely important, so you don't turn your Jewell BR trigger phillips-heads into allen-head screws!) and take the trigger completely apart apart and clean it with Lacquer Thinner (also available at HD, if I didn't already buy it all!)

Please take note to see if your trigger hanger came off your trigger with SOME drag or tighlty(Most do!), it is caused by 1 of the small Phillips screws slightly protruding above the surface of the top trigger-plate, which causes rubbing on the inside of the trigger-hanger). If left unchecked, this protruding phillips screw may cause your trigger plate to slightly pinch and bind your top-lever of your trigger, just a tiny amount, to cause drag, which creates poor ignition (big damn groups!).

This can be fixed, if you carefully hold the screw and rub it on some 600-800 grit metal sandpaper, attached to a flat-surface (kitchen counter top is ideal surface.... especially if your less than BR understanding wife is over at her mother's house!) with some double-sided tape. Lightly sand just enough to de-burr the the top of the phillip screw, so when you put your trigger back togther the trigger hanger EASILY slides over the side-plates of your trigger. Aaaaahhh Nice!!

It's probably important now to tell you to please take care to not lose the small spring behind the trigger shoe when you remove it from the dowel pin that holds it in place. (If anyone should need replacment Jewell trigger spring, please feel free to call Joe Krupa to have him ship you one, at N/C, as I have given him at least 11 replacement springs and misc. Jewell parts...over the last 2 years....%$#@!)

If you're unsure of the state of the operation of your Jewell BR trigger and its effect on your iginition, look at the inside of each side plate. If you are seeing deep radius scratch/drag marks, from where the top-lever is rubbing, this is definetly NOT helping your guns agging potential!! I humbly believe my advice could very much improve your ignition, through eliminating some unexplained lost and stupid shots out of your groups!

Next, HAND polish (no rasp file needed here, guys!) the inside trigger side-plates and top lever with Flitz (available at better stores everywhere, but never close to your house...?) on a polishing cloth, wrapped on a piece of flat bar-stock (or get a piece of glass-plate and LIGHTLY rub the side plates on a polishing cloth (with Flitz) laid on top of the glass plate. This will make your Jewell side-plates silky smooth! (and also make huge mess!). Note, this VERY important as your cocking piece on your bolt is pressing the top lever in your trigger slightly to the left, as your bolt is being cocked. Polishing the side plates of the inside of your triggers will reduce the friction from the force of the cocking piece and promote quicker lock-time/ignition... Also check your internal small levers and the top lever for burs, again, LIGHTLY polish with Flitz... (Show sponsor, what can I say?)

THOROUGHLY clean with Lacquer Thinner (while beling very careful not to spill the whole damn can of Lacquer Thinner while neck-turning at 3:00AM (are you listening Allen Tucker?)on the nice, new Cherry finished Desk in your hotel room (Please e-mail me for a picture), and removing ALL of the beautiful Cherry finish, like room #726 at the lovely new Holiday Inn Suites Hotel, in Charlottesville, VA (That's another story we'll save for later on....)

Anyway, once you have thoroughly cleaned all of the parts, take some LIGHT oil, yes, I said oil, NOT lighter fluid..... Tom Meridith's new TM oil is perfect! (Potential show sponsor)) and VERY LIGHTLY coat both sides of all of the trigger parts with oil and put it back together, CAREFULLY (being careful not to have any left-over parts!) The diagram that came with your trigger is easy, even for me, to follow (I like pictures!)

Take a minute to test your new super-slick trigger, before you put it back in your gun, to ensure the top-lever drops with no resistance or dragging when you press gently on the trigger!

Not trying to open Pandora's box here.... but, some of todays scope problems can be amazingly fixed with better ignition derived from a proper working trigger!

Replace back in your BR rifle. You may possibly need to make only a slight adjustment to the pull weight... Now go out and win some 2-guns with your improved Jewell Trigger! 

The dates for Selkirk matches are:

May 14-15

The BRSC Canadian Nationals July 2-3  Practice day Friday July 1

August 13-14 is the SBRS Championships.

I STRONGLY encourage anyone wishing to attend ANY of these matches to book your rooms shortly.  Selkirk Inn and Conference Center fills up with Fisherman during the summer months.

I will get more info out in regards to the Nationals in early February.

Calvin 

This is scary but funny...........................

Okay here it is.

There is a Leupold VX III 8.5-25 50mm with target dot sitting waiting to get raffled off.  I will post a link to the image of it at the end of this post.

We need to get this underway.  There has been some discussion on the matter at the executive level but it has been very quiet lately.  I will not get into the particulars of the scope and on who donated it at this time.

The raffle will be held out of Manitoba with cooperation of the Little Saskatchewan River Game and Fish Association.  I suggest for there cooperation we present them with a small donation.  

The reason for holding the raffle in Manitoba is I can LEGALLY get a raffle license for 2.00.  The retail value of the scope is under the maximum allowable value before we MUST get the Lotteries involved.  The catch is, the tickets must be sold out of Manitoba.  We can advertise on the forum if Rick is not against it and I have had discussion with the owner of Canadian Gun Nutz to advertise there.  I can e-mail out a receipt upon receiving funds.  We can also print some tickets to sell but I would rather discuss that in telephone conversations.  People would have to call me or e-mail me wanting tickets.

What we the members of BRSC need to decide is how many tickets to make available and at what price.  He is my thought.  200 tickets at 20.00.  The floor is open for discussion.

Here is the link to the scope.

http://www.korthgroup.com/custom.html

I take it you can figure out which scope it is.

Calvin