Brian Payne

Thanks Chad.

Any helpful hints on what to practice up on? Types of targets to be shot? Odd positions? Stuff like that. The Tri-gun is over and I am ready to begin preperation for this match. See you guys soon.

This was a GREAT match - on so many levels. I am still having trouble straightening out the thoughts running through my head. The RO's that ran themselves into the ground (or into the basement) for our safety and enjoyment. Bob Mills for running another memorable match. Big Jon for some of the best stages I have ever shot. DPMS for everything they have done for Tyler and the rest of the shooting world as a whole. (I overheard several shooters talking about how nice it was that the DPMS armorers fixed their rifles even though they weren't DPMS products). Del-Tone-Luth Gun Club for holding this match as well as the monthly Mini 3-gun matches that allowed a lot of Minnesota shooters to practice enough to place well in many of the divisions. All of the sponsors who contributed well over $200,000.00 in prizes. The workers on the range that did so much to keep the range clean and well run. Squad #2 simply rocked. I think we were the fastest squad at resetting and pasting. In fact I am sure of it because Tim Ubl said so on stage #4. The Army Marksmanship Unit. What a class act. I am proud that my son was offered the opportunity to be a part the unit. (I just hope they put him in the Tac Iron Division)

Mark K, I REALLY appreciate this. He is a man grown and more than capable of taking care of himself, but it is still nice as a parent to know that things will work out. I may be in touch.

Tyler was offered a position as a member of the Army Marksmanship Unit. It came as somewhat of a suprise to me, and it was announced at the start of the awards ceremony at the DPMS Tri-gun Challenge. I wish I had it on video. A nice conflict of emotions. I have always been very proud of all three of my sons, and I can't really say that I am now "more" proud of Tyler, than I was prior to this great opportunity. But I am very happy that he can do something like this and start a bright future. I am guessing that Tyler will no longer be known as Brian Payne's son, I will be known as Tyler Payne's father. I find that very cool

Don't forget the PEPR from Burris. Very nice.

Great video!

My little buddy "Tigger", Paint Stallion. Not the four legged friend you were looking for I know.

Brett Farve is now a Viking!

The circle part of the reticle is visible as well as the center 100 yrd dot, the little 200 yrd dot, and the lower 300 yrd dot. I worked with mine at the range for the first time yesterday. Sighted dead on at 100 and the 200 yrd dot and 300 yrd dot were dead on, the 400 yrd hash mark seemed good as well. With the little 200 yrd dot I was making hits on the little head portion on the MGM Flashtarget at 200 yrds with ease. I shot two 62 grain loads and one 55 grn load and the groups impacted the same out to 300 yrds., at 400 yrds they began to seperate from each other. I was testing the different bullet weights because this reticle is set for 7.62 ammo and I wanted to see how much different it would be for 5.56 ammo.

This is a very interesting topic. My question would be something like this. 3 Dram load with 1 1/8 oz of shot traveling at around 1300 fps. One shell has #8, the other has #6. You are choked such that the majority of the payload is delivered on target. Would the #6 really be better than #8 or even #9 if you are trying to drop steel poppers, or the newer style steel plates that are replacing clay birds? Sorry if this is a thread drift, but the topics seemed close enough to warrant this question.

That is what brought up the topic of conversation. By just using the 100 yrd. dot as the 200 yrd zero, it is easier and quicker to aquire, you would only be around 1" high at 100 yrds., but you would need to spend some range time figuring all of the other ranges out. This would not be a bad thing I guess.

I picked up the new Burris 1.5 x 6 XTR. My son has the 1 x 4 XTR. For those that have either of these two optics, either Gen 1 or Gen 2, how are you zeroing the reticle. It is set up to use the larger first dot for 100 yrd, then a very small 200 yrd dot, then a larger 300 yrd dot, then the BDC lines for longer distance. My son brought up a very good point. Just zero the large 100 yrd dot for 200 yrds, you would hold a little low on 100 yrd targets but be dead on out to 200 (and dead on at 50 also). Then check the rest of the dots and stadia lines to see where they line up for distance using your ammo of choice. Just curious what others are doing.

Entry sent and camping spot reserved. See you at the DPMS Tri-gun Challenge.

U.Duck As for the balance, I really never noticed the difference. All that I know is that the TA-33 has the smaller FOV, which does not normally cause a problem if you keep both eyes open and the scope is on the move (from target to target), but when you become stationary for a little bit (like engaging a bank of closely spaced targets) then the eye tends to go into the scope and it is difficult to pull it back out. It is a little hard to explain, and it might just be my eyes that have this problem. I use the TA-11 because I don't have this problem with that scope. As far as long range shooting, I saw a Trijicon Rep. shooting at the RM3G a couple of years ago (when the TA-33) just came out. He was using the TA-33 and had no problems ingaging (and hitting) targets out to the 400+ range. I do think the added .5 power of the TA-11 is an advantage at distance though. If you normally shoot under the 300 yrd. distance I think the TA-33 is an excellent choice for 3-gun, plus it is less expensive than most of the other ACOGS. I see they now have the horseshoe reticle option, which is nice from what I have seen.

I have both the TA-11 and the TA-33. The TA-33 works very well for 3-gun for people that can master the BAC, it just doesn't work quite as well for me as the TA-11 does. For some reason, if there is a bank of targets the TA-33 tends to "suck" my eye into the scope more than the TA-11 does. I can't explain why that is, probably just the way my eyes work with that scope. It is a great scope that will do anything that the TA-11 does, it just won't do it quite as well for me. As an added note, the eye relief is much farther than what the specs say. I have the scope a good inch farther down the rail than the TA-11.

I will be using the Burris 1.5X6 later this week. My TA-11 took a dive at the RM3G and I had just picked this scope up, so it will be forced to the starting role for the Tri-gun Challenge. The FOV on the Burris is higher than the TA-11, and the new reticle is bright enough for bright daylight use so the BAC I am used to using on the 3.5 power TA-11 is even easier to use on the 1.5 power setting of this scope. We will see shortly, but from the brief work I have done with it so far, it looks like it might work. The only problem I might see is that the height of the target type knobs might work against you when you are engaging targets from left to right. Your vision might be obscured a little by the windage knob. I am anxious to give it a try at a short 3-gun rifle class on Thursday night.

Back in Minnesota. What a great trip for the wife and I, and what a great match. Even with equipment problems, this has to be one of the most memorable matches I have been to. Squad #8 was the best. I learned a lot from each of the shooters. It is fun to be on a squad where no one is shy about working. The shooters - The awards ceremony says it all about shooters in my opinion. As a group of people, they can't be beat. The RO's - what can you say, they are not right in the head. Why you do what you do is still a mystery to me, but thank you to all. I never ran into a bad mood the whole match. I do want to know who carried all of those targets up the mountain though. The Sponsors - without them there would be no matches. My money is going to the many people who support the sport. For my birthday present, I think I have my wife talked into one of those nice JP Enterprises CTR-02 rifles. Denise and JJ - A thousand tongues couldn't express the thanks for such a great match. My wife and I are already looking forward to next year. The NRA Whittington Center and staff. My hat is off to you. What a great place. The NRA - Thanks for supporting the "Outlaws" of the shooting sports. It is nice to see you there beside us.

Well, this shoot is off to a great start. Since I had the motorhome loaded in preperation for driving down to the Whittington, I decided to sleep there to get used to the accomodations. A bad Thunderstorm went through late in the evening, knocking the power out in the area for a few hours. With the power out, so is the farms security light. During a break in the rain, my wife decided to let the two dogs out to go to the bathroom. While they were outside, in total darkness, they came across a new "kitty" wandering the yard. This new kitty became most odorifeorus in short order. The dogs came howling back to the house and tore in the door that was being held open by my concerned wife. Needless to say, we have been trying every anti-skunk scent trick we could think of. Seems to be working pretty well, or we are just getting used to the aroma. I am hoping two days of baths will clear up enough of the scent to allow us to handle the trip with them in the motorhome. 1200 miles of driving with my head out the window does not sound like fun. I hope everyone elses trip is starting out with a little less adventure.

I hate this waiting crap! I will be leaving next Monday very early. My wife kicked me out of the house yesterday because I was already driving her nuts. She finds great humor in the fact that I am bringing along some of those 5 hr. energy drinks so that I don't get too "tuckered". She feels sorry for my squad mates. See everyone soon Lee, don't worry, I think I will remember all of your ammo.

Another vote for the "Holland Grill". My wife and I have both the companion size (for when we take the motorhome to matches) and the full size.

Hancock Minnesota was the "Beef Feeding Capital of the World" when I was growing up. Feed lots with thousands of cattle were everywhere in the area. At the time the only way to keep hay was in the small square bales stacked in huge stacks that were up to 1/4 mile long and high enough you needed an elevator to reach the top. Many days had 1200 to 1400 bale days. We were paid a penny a bale at that time. Thinking back it reminds me of the building of the great pyramids. The "slave drivers" didn't really use whips with us though.

Make sure your shotgun runs. Nothing can screw a stage up faster than having a jam. The jam is easy enough to clear (normally) but the stage train of thought has now been derailed.

My wife and I raise Paint Horses. Living in Minnesota causes us to have to put up hay for winter forage. Somthing about baling hay that I really like. I am not sure if it is all the good natural exercise, the smells, the sounds of the equipment running, the sweat dripping off of the brim of your hat, or the feeling of accomplishment when you have a hay loft full of well stacked bales of hay. This job was a summer job for the younger men of my home town. Our football team never had weights to work out with so the captains of the team would have haying crews and we would hire out for baling hay. It was a good way to make extra money and get into playing shape at the same time. It was also a character builder. Worst thing to happen to America in my opinion is the invention of the round baler. Now you can't hire kids to help with hay because they don't want to get dirty, smelly, sweaty, or any of that other fun stuff. Oh well! I still like it.

Chad, I know you said the courses of fire will be at the campground area. I will be down in my motorhome. To get to the stages will I need to rent a vehicle or are they within somewhat reasonable walking distance to carry or cart the shooting gear.