Fly Shoot

Fly Shoot is a shooting discipline that caters exclusively to rifles. The discipline includes Rimfire and Centrefire matches generally shot at 200 yards and 500m respectively. Each match comprises five targets, with the target having a ‘fly’ 30mm in size as the X-ring and scoring rings around it. Fly Shoot is a unique discipline as both the size of the groups and scores count towards a shooter’s final result. It is best to try to keep the five-shot group as close to the fly as possible for a maximum score.

History

Fly Shoot has its origins in the Benchrest discipline with shooters who saw the need for a way to prove centrefire rifles under organised range conditions at 500m. After many months, the competition format was settled. Rifles would be shot off the benches, but unlike short-range Benchrest, the match would be for group size and score. This would encourage competitors to place their groups with a higher degree of accuracy than in short-range Benchrest matches.

In 1990, the first match was advertised as an open challenge to SSAA members, police and military personnel, and other interested groups. The response was overwhelming, attracting 40 competitors. The first Fly Shoot match was shot on the SSAA Canberra range that year and was a huge success, with competitors keen to have it as a regular annual event.

The 20th annual Fly Shoot was contested on the SSAA Canberra range in 2010 and the first official SSAA National Fly Shoot Championships was held in Canberra in 2012.

In June 2017, Fly Shoot was given the status of being its own separate SSAA discipline.

Firearms and Classes

The Rimfire match allows the use of any .22LR rimfire rifle and the total maximum weight of the rifle must not exceed 7.711kg (17lb). The Centrefire match includes a Light and Heavy class, with both allowing any legal, registered centrefire rifle up to and including .49-calibre. In the Light class, the total maximum weight of the rifle including a bipod must not exceed 7.711kg (17lb), while in the Heavy class, the rifle may have an unlimited weight, but it must be manually lifted onto the bench.

Targets, Scoring and Matches

Both the 200-yard Rimfire and 500m Centrefire matches use an approved 10-value target measuring 8.54″ (21.7cm) in diameter. Its centre scoring ring with the fly is of 1.77″ (4.5cm) diameter with a value of 10, while the width of scoring rings with the value 1 to 9 is 0.35″ (0.9cm).

Competitors may use only eight rounds per target; five rounds on the target for scoring and three rounds for sighting on a sighting target (paper, steel or other medium). Scores are decided by best edge scoring, wherein if a bullet touches the border of the next highest ring, with no gap, the higher score will be awarded.

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