Re: Any advice for the IRTC?
I've shot it 5 times or so. Best finish was 3rd.
Time management: If you are used to 3 gun or USPSA you more than likely won't have a problem. This lat year the allowed course time was more than generous, in years past dicking around would get you passed by another team (your score stops where you were passed) or you wouldl not finish the course.
Have a plan. When going into a position the carbine guy shoots first, so the rifle guy should have the LRF out calling ranges and wind conditions as the carbine guy sets up, assist in spotting the targets. Then switch. Pack up quick and haul ass, you do not have to run on the field courses unless you shoot slow.
I've seen guys (I've ROed the match before, too) get to a position, unzip the backpack, lase the targets, have their partner lase the targets, dial windage and elevation on 200 yd targets. Too slow! If they are gimmes, hose those suckers and give the long range guy more time.
Zeros: Know them from shooting at distance. Occasionally my first clue of a canted reticle is consistant misses left or right at range. The BC you input in your computer may be inaccurate. By all means print out the best data you can get, but then varify that data out to 1,000 yds by shooting out that far. Shouldn't be a problem in Montana, but I've seen some Eastern shooters frustrated as heck when the rifle wasn't putting them where the dope sheet said they should be going.
Conditions: Be prepared to shoot almost directly into the rising sun. Spotting taregets through the rifle scope can be very challenging and burn a lot of time. A long sunshade, ARD, poncho tented over your head and scope work a lot better than having your partner shield the sun with his ball cap while you curse that you can't see anything.
If you have the opportunity, train for this, it can be a score killer.
Wind will kick your butt, pay attention to it.
Don't use a muzzle brake that vents downward, stirs up too much dust.
Do use a muzzle brake to assist in calling your own shots. A lot of timmes misses are in high grass or scrub brush, no dust or dirt splash to call. Having two people calling the shots double the probability of knowing where in heck it went.
Use high cap mags if your long gun will take them. 10 rd AI mags, 20 rd Tubb 2K mags will both end up saving time.
Use a beater carbine for the gulley course. Make sure the gas block is pinned on. I've lost track of how many set screwed gas blocks I've seen come off, happened to us one year. Don't be that guy.
Have fun. I'm just a civilian (former National Guard many years ago), but there are generally teams from various military branches, FBI, Dept. of Energy, Police and Sheriff teams, professional shooters like Voigt and Cooley, shadowy ROs from Montana that won't divulge their full names...these folks are generally pretty cool to talk to.
Let me know if you have any specific questions.
