Hey guys. For a very long time now, I've been formulating plans for changing around the traditional highpower formula. A lot of new disciplines (3 gun, F class) came around from someone wanting to mix it up, and I think this is another natural progression...
I got into highpower solely because it was the most practical, direct way to get good at riflery. I never wanted to be competitive, owing to the gear necessary. I find that coats, slings (used in the full loop configuration), and gloves reduce how practical of a training tool it is from a military or hunting standpoint. It allows you to practice the fundamentals, yes, but it's got a bit too much of the benchrest, locked-down mentality in it for me.
So, I've been thinking about how I'd change around the course to make it more real world and practical. I'm looking to you guys, especially those who've served, for input. Here's what I'm thinking so far...
Changes to gear- shooting coats, heavy gloves, and slings used in a formal (non hasty) fashion not permitted. For gloves, an easy test would be- can the same glove be used on your shooting hand as on your supporting hand?
Positions- standing has always made sense to me, as has prone. I would do away with sitting, perhaps to be replaced with crouching. Or an option for either. Basically, less restrictive. I'd still probably keep the same position/distance relationship- 200 standing, 300 crouched/sitting, 600 prone.
Course of fire- Here's where it gets really interesting. There are a few different options, but I'd actually want to keep the same exact layout for every distance and position. The goal across the course would be accuracy with speed, again, for more of a real-world feel. Here are my ideas...
Countdown, single bull ring, shoot for score.
Here, all competitors would shoot at their own single target, something like 20 shots in 1.5 minutes, with 10 rounds per mag. Not unlike the current rapid phase.
Timed, separate steel targets, shoot for time.
Similar to biathlon and 3 gun. Take as many rounds as you want to put down 10 or 20 poppers laid out horizontally. Fastest aggregate times across the course win. I really like this idea because it emphasizes repositioning and minute of man shooting over "locking yourself down" into position and taking 20 minutes to get the smallest groups. It has the disadvantage of only allowing 1 shooter at a time, but if you do the math, it's probably shorter time overall, and doesn't require target pullers.
Rifle classes- I'd probably do either 2 or 3 classes. Irons and optics; or irons, optics to 4x, and open optics. This would encourage traditional iron sighted rifles, reflex sights, and scopes. Of course, you'd be required to use the same rig across the course, requiring you to do some good gear balancing to get the best overall solution.
The one thing I haven't decided yet is whether prone at 600 should be self-supporting only (with at most a hasty sling or a TIS clip), or bipod and bag permitted. Now that I think about it, any sling configuration should probably be allowed across the course, but you have to begin unslung. So the decision is yours whether or not to take the time to sling up, and how.
Anyway, these are my thoughts so far. To reiterate, the main points here are:
- Less use of restrictive, lock in place type gear
- Emphasis on quicker shooting
- Ability to use existing high power ranges without the need for much retooling
- Overall goal: <span style="font-weight: bold">to better simulate quick fire engagement at distance.</span>
I'd love to get your thoughts!
-BB
I got into highpower solely because it was the most practical, direct way to get good at riflery. I never wanted to be competitive, owing to the gear necessary. I find that coats, slings (used in the full loop configuration), and gloves reduce how practical of a training tool it is from a military or hunting standpoint. It allows you to practice the fundamentals, yes, but it's got a bit too much of the benchrest, locked-down mentality in it for me.
So, I've been thinking about how I'd change around the course to make it more real world and practical. I'm looking to you guys, especially those who've served, for input. Here's what I'm thinking so far...
Changes to gear- shooting coats, heavy gloves, and slings used in a formal (non hasty) fashion not permitted. For gloves, an easy test would be- can the same glove be used on your shooting hand as on your supporting hand?
Positions- standing has always made sense to me, as has prone. I would do away with sitting, perhaps to be replaced with crouching. Or an option for either. Basically, less restrictive. I'd still probably keep the same position/distance relationship- 200 standing, 300 crouched/sitting, 600 prone.
Course of fire- Here's where it gets really interesting. There are a few different options, but I'd actually want to keep the same exact layout for every distance and position. The goal across the course would be accuracy with speed, again, for more of a real-world feel. Here are my ideas...
Countdown, single bull ring, shoot for score.
Here, all competitors would shoot at their own single target, something like 20 shots in 1.5 minutes, with 10 rounds per mag. Not unlike the current rapid phase.
Timed, separate steel targets, shoot for time.
Similar to biathlon and 3 gun. Take as many rounds as you want to put down 10 or 20 poppers laid out horizontally. Fastest aggregate times across the course win. I really like this idea because it emphasizes repositioning and minute of man shooting over "locking yourself down" into position and taking 20 minutes to get the smallest groups. It has the disadvantage of only allowing 1 shooter at a time, but if you do the math, it's probably shorter time overall, and doesn't require target pullers.
Rifle classes- I'd probably do either 2 or 3 classes. Irons and optics; or irons, optics to 4x, and open optics. This would encourage traditional iron sighted rifles, reflex sights, and scopes. Of course, you'd be required to use the same rig across the course, requiring you to do some good gear balancing to get the best overall solution.
The one thing I haven't decided yet is whether prone at 600 should be self-supporting only (with at most a hasty sling or a TIS clip), or bipod and bag permitted. Now that I think about it, any sling configuration should probably be allowed across the course, but you have to begin unslung. So the decision is yours whether or not to take the time to sling up, and how.
Anyway, these are my thoughts so far. To reiterate, the main points here are:
- Less use of restrictive, lock in place type gear
- Emphasis on quicker shooting
- Ability to use existing high power ranges without the need for much retooling
- Overall goal: <span style="font-weight: bold">to better simulate quick fire engagement at distance.</span>
I'd love to get your thoughts!
-BB
