gunbunny
11-07-2007, 12:21 AM
Anybody here compete in the summer biathlon? To anyone who doesn't know what that is, here is a description: a 5k race combined with 2 relays of shooting at targets at either 25 or 50 meters. The first relay is prone, and the second relay is offhand. The running distance between each relay is approxamately 1.1 miles, arainged in the format: run, shoot prone, run, shoot offhand, run.
This is a very inexpensive and very challenging sport. The rifle requirements are pretty loose, it only needs to be a .22lr bolt action, 5 shot magazine fed, and have open sights. I see a lot of olympic class competitors (practicing for the winter biathlon) shooting Anschutz rifles that are all decked out, club runners shooting Marlin 2000 rifles, and people like me using their own rifles. I shoot an old Winchester model 69.
While practicing, I can hit strings of targets (4.5cm disks, lined up 5 across) without a miss, but once you add the elements of the race- adrenaline, high pulse and breathing rate, stress, and PAIN- you get something altogether different.
I just finished the last race of the year (except for the snowshoe biathlon in December) in our new venue at Whitetail Preserve, Nescopeck, PA. The course was half uphill, and very steep, which made my time go up and my shooting lousy. I had an overall time of 29:55 with 0-4 misses overall, and got second place in my age catagory.
One of these days I'll get some photos. I don't have any because I'm usually competing.
If anyone is interested in trying a summer biathlon, you could try http://www.summerbiathlon.com/index.html and check to see if you have any races in your area. If you are close enough to make a race in PA, send me a PM and I'll help you out.
This is a very inexpensive and very challenging sport. The rifle requirements are pretty loose, it only needs to be a .22lr bolt action, 5 shot magazine fed, and have open sights. I see a lot of olympic class competitors (practicing for the winter biathlon) shooting Anschutz rifles that are all decked out, club runners shooting Marlin 2000 rifles, and people like me using their own rifles. I shoot an old Winchester model 69.
While practicing, I can hit strings of targets (4.5cm disks, lined up 5 across) without a miss, but once you add the elements of the race- adrenaline, high pulse and breathing rate, stress, and PAIN- you get something altogether different.
I just finished the last race of the year (except for the snowshoe biathlon in December) in our new venue at Whitetail Preserve, Nescopeck, PA. The course was half uphill, and very steep, which made my time go up and my shooting lousy. I had an overall time of 29:55 with 0-4 misses overall, and got second place in my age catagory.
One of these days I'll get some photos. I don't have any because I'm usually competing.
If anyone is interested in trying a summer biathlon, you could try http://www.summerbiathlon.com/index.html and check to see if you have any races in your area. If you are close enough to make a race in PA, send me a PM and I'll help you out.