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SPARROWHAWK NZ

PRECISION RIFLE Series 1 and 2

 

The Precision Rifle series is a a progression of 1 day courses designed to give you the tools and knowledge required to get the most out of your rifle and you.

Learn the fundamental techniques required to achieve first round hits out to 800 + meters in the field. The focus of the class is on correct equipment setup and marksmanship in this increasingly popular discipline.
Intended for the beginner through to advanced long range marksman.

The courses follow the path of equipment set up, data gathering at known distances and then moving to unknown distance shooting and will focus proper equipment set up and problem solving, wind compensation, calculations and marksmanship disciplines.

 

Course Length: 1 Day for each level
Course Fees: $375 incl gst
Ammunition: Minimum 50rds

Equipment and accessories needed for Precision Rifle Courses.

 A centre-fire rifle, capable of at least Minute of Angle accuracy (MOA) using the ammo you will use in the class. The rifle may be equipped with a sling, carry strap or loop style.  

Optics capability allowing use at extended ranges out to, and in excess of, 800m. The scope must have adjustments that may be moved by hand not tools (BDC’s or target knobs)

Suitable scopes are available for loan by prior arrangement. 

Minimum 50 rounds of Match quality or dedicated hand load ammunition. Shooting mat / groundsheet. Rifle data book or ballistic calculator (please have app pre installed on devices). Bipod or sandbag /rests, ammunition carrier, eye & ear protection, range bag and cleaning equipment, jacket and or rain gear, stout footwear. Spotting scope or good binoculars recommended. Be prepared to carry all your gear from point to point (rucksack).

 

Guidelines.

 

Range.

The Sparrowhawk Range Complex at Shenley Station is a registered private facility. The home of the Cave Pistol Club, recognised by the NZ Police and Pistol NZ. The facility, comprising of eight united ranges and simulators to facilitate handgun, practical rifle, sporting shotgun, assault rifle and combat shotgun and open country precision rifle.

 

Targets.

Emphasis being on practical shooting, both paper and steel reactive targets are used.

 

Firearms.

Applicants are encouraged to provide their own firearms, and ammunition. 

Firearms should be in a safe working condition.

 

Ammunition.

If you are not using own ammunition we can provide an ammunition package for the course by prior arrangement.

If we are notified in reasonable timeframe a specific Match ammunition package can be sourced.

Reloaded ammunition policy: Dedicated home loads, developed for Precision Rifle or  fully developed reloaded ammunition is acceptable. Do not use our courses as an opportunity to test or develop your home loads.

 

Mindset:

For first time students especially, bring an open mind and a sense of humour- and be prepared for the most enjoyable and most challenging days you’ve ever spent with a firearm. 

 

Equipment/Apparel.

Hearing protection, safety glasses, hat, seasonal clothing, warm clothing, Boots, Wet weather gear (we don’t stop!), water bottle, knee pads, elbow pads (optional). A pack that you can fit all this in! An ammunition carrier is a useful addition, as is a belt or pouch carrier. Flashlight, small hand held intense (60 lumen minimum) flashlight with a rear button actuation switch is desirable. Quality flashlights are available for purchase by prior arrangement.

 

Accommodation.

Comfortable accommodation (Homestead style) is available by request onsite. Cottage sleeps 7 people, is fully furnished with cooking utensils and cutlery provided. Students will however need to provide their own food and bring sleeping bags or bedding.

Price: $45 pp/night

Albury Inn is located 12km from the ranges and has firearms friendly accommodation.

 

Disabilities/Impairments/Medication.

It is your responsibility to inform us of any of the above to facilitate the continuity of the Course for both the students and the Instructors. Shooting with movement, under stress, requires students to have a reasonable level of fitness.

Instructors.

Our Instructors will endeavour to provide the best firearms and practical training in their field and are invited because; of their knowledge of the doctrine and communication skills along with their standing in associations involved their discipline. We endeavour to keep a student/instructor ratio of 3:1.

 

Safety.  

It should not be necessary to point out that firearms can cause severe inadvertent damage in careless hands. There are no “accidents” with guns – only negligence. You will be carefully and forcefully instructed in the principles of safe gun handling. Any student who unsafely or negligently discharges his/her firearm on or off the range during the Course will have their tuition fee returned and be dismissed from the Course.

 

Indemnity.

A Release, Discharge, Indemnity form will be required to be filled out by all applicants, any visitor, observer or other persons not actively on the Course, on entering the property and prior to the commencement of the Course. A copy of which can be found Here

 

Grading.

Most Sparrowhawk classes are graded as a measurement technique to let students know how their learning experience fits into the wide range of performances seen at the school. These grades are reflected on your certificates at graduation. Although there will be several formal range exercises tested, the overall grading is necessarily subjective due to the specialized performance-oriented tasks encountered in the courses. The grading process is heavily weighted against your marksmanship abilities. The extensive experience of the Rangemasters and Instructors in evaluating individual skills across the spectrum of performances is used to assign grades. Several advanced level classes are not graded due to the specialized nature of their content.

No one is required to accept a graded certificate.  If you prefer not to have a grade on your certificate, let your Rangemaster know at any time during the course.

(This outline should not be considered to be a complete syllabus)

 

Course Objectives: Precision Rifle level 1

Set up Equipment Pre-firing checks

Muzzle Break/Suppressors

Barrel, Life and care

Actions/bedding/recoil lugs

Screws and torque

What to Loctite

What to oil/clean

Optics.

Mounting

Scope levels

Screws and torque

Max-min tracking.

Zero stops

Reticules

FFP vs SFP

Parallax how to adjust

shooting aides.

Bipods

Shooting sticks

Bags and rests

Ammunition.

Handloading vs factory

SD vs ES

Inspection.

management.

Establishing zero. Chrony/Radar

Body disciplines and fundamentals

workflow,

cheek weld,

breathing,

trigger control

Follow through

Shooting position Fundamentals

Ballistic Programs

Overview

Free programs <1500fps

Setup

Environmentals, Atmospherics.

100m zero at any distance

Truing software

Cal MV vs Cal DSF

 

Course Objectives: Precision Rifle level 2

Confirm Level 1 basics

Equipment Checks

Confirm ballistics 700m

Reloading

Load development and testing methodology

Accuracy vs Precision

Ladder testing

ES and SD

Ammunition Management

Temperature

Positional Shooting

Principals

Building your position

Equipment management

Points of stability

Wind/tie downs etc

Tripods

Barricades and obstacles

Ballistic Programs continued

Calibrate MV

Advanced Features

Quick Drop formula

Introduction to Wind

Concepts

Direction and impact on Ballistics

Wind measurement and estimation

Cosine values and impact

Input to Ballistic software

Quick Wind formula

Wind Budgeting

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